Alice Foote MacDougall

Alice Foote MacDougall (March 2, 1867 – February 10, 1945) was an American coffee wholesaler, restaurateur, and business owner. Born and raised in New York City, MacDougall was a member of New York gentry – her great-grandfather was the mayor of New York City from 1821 to 1824.

Personal life

Marriage At the age of 20, MacDougall married Allan MacDougall, a 34-year-old door-to-door salesman. However, the marriage was deeply unhappy. In her book Alice Foote MacDougall, the autobiography of a business woman, Alice described her marriage as going "slowly, painfully, through the dark mazes of dreadful disillusionment."

Social and political stances Alice Foote MacDougall's entrance into business and her subsequent bold career went against her stance as an anti-suffragist. She used a false name, since many prospective customers in the early 1900s in New York held negative views about women in business. The establishment was originally opened with the purpose of promoting her roasted coffee products. However, the shop was initially unsuccessful. Based on request from prospective customers to taste her coffee products before considering making a purchase, MacDougall set up chairs and tables for this purpose.

Firenze The following addition to MacDougall's restaurant empire was the Firenze, located on 6 West 46th Street in Manhattan. This was the fifth eatery MacDougall opened during her career. It was a Spanish-style restaurant in which the waiters and waitresses wore mantillas and red Iberian costumes. The restaurant featured several distinct sections, including an Alhambra Room, an Early Renaissance Room, and once Prohibition ended in 1933, a Wine Shop was also added. Her personal brand of coffee was exclusively served at venues and the option to purchase a bag was always advertised to customers. She also maintained waffles as a menu item for each location, as her first food offering during the early stages of The Little Coffee Shop had become publicly known as her signature dish. The book covers a broad range of recipes for "cakes, sandwiches, salads, coffee and tea". Additionally, the book includes the author's personal contemplations regarding the entertaining and life. MacDougall's company transformed from a one-person operation to running a staff of 700 by 1927.