This week, after two years with the café @ Cornell Tech, Christian Camacho steeped into the top spot. Here’s a quick introduction.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
Who is Christian Camacho?
The first thing I noticed about Christian Camacho, sitting by the floor to ceiling windows in the café, was that he was too young for the job. He could not have nearly enough experience, but I was wrong. His youthful, optimistic appearance belies a strong track record in food service management.
Great Service for Great Food
As luck would have it, Camacho arrived for his new job on Roosevelt Island just before the coronavirus pandemic hit New York full force. He was a Catering Director where catering was virtually impossible.
Fortunately, his prior experience prepared him for rolling with the punches. Starting fifteen years ago, he took a job with the Compass Group, the sixth largest food service company in the U.S. But he wasn’t really into food service yet. He was hired on as a bookkeeper.
Things changed, though, and two years later, he was manager at the high-volume Café at Cleary Gottlieb Steen. And after multiple promotions, ten years after that, he moved on to the Patina Restaurant Group, fine dining specialists, where he worked as a General Manager.
As a result, he brought a boatload of successful experience on the day he landed at Cornell Tech. Now, after two COVID restricted years, he’s ready to use that experience in carrying on where departing Christopher Lewis left off.
Off Work
A native of Dayton, Ohio, raised in New Jersey, Christian Camacho is a family man, proud of his Columbian heritage with roots deep in the coffee business. He moved into New York City in 2014 and lives with his children, one 2 years old, the other 12, and wife in Jamaica Estates, Queens.
“We like to do a lot of road trips,” he says.
In the meantime, he’s a bit of a news junkie, interested most in world and financial news.
Conclusion
The café’s new GM invites you to stop by and say, “Hello,” while he adjusts to his new role. Coming in with the pandemic receding, he has ideas about innovations for the scenic venue. We’ll bring you up to date on them as they develop.
More from he Roosevelt Island Daily
- J and M Train Weekend Service Changes: What Riders Need to KnowJ and M train weekend service changes will impact riders for five weekends as crews replace elevated track switches. Here’s what to expect and how to prepare for modified schedules across Brooklyn and Queens.
- Coastal Flooding Disrupts Southeast Queens Streets and TransitCoastal flooding disrupted streets and transit across Southeast Queens as a fall nor’easter brought heavy rain and renewed calls for resilience and improved drainage.
- Nor’easter Brings Slow Streets and Transit Delays Across Queens and NYCAfter the nor’easter, slow streets and transit delays across Queens and NYC greeted commuters. Utility crews continued repairs as normal routines resumed Monday.
- Nor’easter Brings Flooding and Disruption Across New York CityA powerful nor’easter brings flooding and disruption across New York City, with heavy rain, gusty winds, and coastal flooding impacting neighborhoods through the weekend.
- Fatal Shooting Outside Astoria Gentlemen’s Club During Robbery AttemptA man was fatally shot outside an Astoria gentlemen’s club during a robbery attempt early Thursday. NYPD investigators are seeking witnesses and reviewing video footage as the homicide investigation continues.
The Budget Knew Before the “Emergency”
The demolition began on paper long before the City invoked emergency authority to carry it out. In RIOC’s fiscal 2013-14 budget, the Corporation set aside $7 million for fiscal 2015 for the complete demolition and cleanup of the Roosevelt Island Steam Plant. RIOC called that figure its worst-case scenario, meaning the State corporation might be left responsible for the entire cost.
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