Cafe de nuit - Van Gogh Kandinsk

The Den was originally established in 1944 under the name Manny’s Den. A Family business spanning over 65 years, The Den is in its third generation, run by Manny and Leah Mack’s grandchildren, Peter and Randi. During the past 65 years The Den has had many faces. Originally a shot and beer bar catering to the soldiers and local business people of New Brunswick, The Den gradually started to attract the local avant-garde crowd consisting of students, artists, Rutgers and Princeton University people. After a very short time, around the late fifties and early sixties, The Den was known as a very hip mixed bar and restaurant. After the cocktail and dinner crowds left for the evening the remaining clientele was predominately Gay.

In 1961 The A.B.C. (Alcohol Beverage Control) came into The Den and tried to close them down. At that time it was illegal in the state of New Jersey to be “an apparent homosexual” and to congregate in a public place. Six years later after numerous court challenges the Mack Family eventual won the case against the A.B.C., which set a precedent to allow homosexuals to congregate in public places in the State of New Jersey. This occurred before Stonewall, in New York City.

Since that time many changes, moves and incarnations have taken place. Despite the many changes, one strong thread still runs through The Den. The Den is still known as a friendly, intimate place where all are welcome. The Den is a place where you can enjoy your time with old friends, meet new friends, kick back, relax and be yourself. Today, The New Den is in the process of another birth. Recently The New Den opened its new lounge and bar area, which is an extraordinary space. It is intimate, classic yet hip and eclectic. “We tried to combine many elements of style into The New Den. We brought in colors and textures from the past and present with comfort, casualness and relaxation in mind. Our new mahogany bar is gorgeous and perfectly compliments our pallet of colors. It’s extremely natural.”

Today, The New Den is having a resurgence. With the new nightclub, lounge and bar streaming along, the Mack family is going back to its roots and has finally completed the construction of a new restaurant in the front half of the existing Den building. Sophie’s Bistro brings a friendly casual atmosphere serving hardy food with a French/American influence. The atmosphere is fun and festive, yet intimate, cozy and informal. Sophie's is moderately priced, offering daily specials with menus changing on a seasonal basis. In addition, Sophie’s also has a spectacular wine menu with wines by the bottle, carafe and glass. Fresh seasonal produce and high quality products compliments Sophie's Menu.

“Actually, I’m looking to recreate some of the atmosphere of the eclectic crowd of the past. I would love to see the many local artists, students, and University people mix at the new bistro. As cliché as it may sound, variety is the spice of life,” states Peter Mack.