Cy’s Green Coffee Pot was established in 1932, when Simon and Rose Kaufman borrowed six hundred dollars from Simon's father and, together with their two daughters and infant son, left Fall River to open a restaurant on Nantucket.  As the children grew, they all worked at Cy’s, until the torch was passed to their eldest daughter, Zelda, and her husband Milton Zlotin, whom many Nantucketers still remember fondly, even today.

         The stories are all told with such love that we believe they must have been very special people. Friends tell us that you often had to wake up "Uncle" Milton to get him to pour you another beer; others say you merely had to drop a dollar bill on the bar and he would hear it! Zelda's kitchen was famous for her hot, hearty food. Legend has it that the service was sometimes slow, because the waitresses often had to run to the A&P to buy steak for Zelda to cook. People said that Zelda dedicated her life to the three things she loved the most: her family, the magic island of Nantucket, and fortunately for many, her cooking. How cool is that!

         In the late 1970's Milton and Zelda decided to retire and sell Cy’s to a trio of friends from Burlington, Vermont: Billy Hunter, Tom Kennelly and Bill Fish.  They then opened The Atlantic Café in 1979.  Although common in Burlington, the Cafe was unique to Nantucket, and is often referred to by Billy Hunter as Nantucket's first "fern" bar.  By expanding the restaurant and the menu, The AC became “the place to go” for many years on the island.

        In 1989, John and Kate O'Connor purchased The Atlantic Café, kept this tradition alive, and started many traditions of their own.  Being the parents of three children, John and Kate are very active in the community and The Cafe has followed that lead.  Many a Whaler victory has been celebrated here and Wednesday night "wing Night" has become an Island tradition in its own right.  Never ones to turn down a charity, the O’Connors made the Atlantic Cafe a true family restaurant in every way!

        So now it's our turn! We've brought back the name Cy’s, to honor the amazing history of this restaurant and we will do our best to live up to the name. We use Zelda's recipe for Tipsy Pudding, Billy Hunter's ferns can be seen in all the windows and Kate O'Connor's Nantucket mural will always adorn the bar. 

         Help us to make some history of our own, but feel free to look around and hoist a few to Philly Moore, Les Saunders, Mike Goode, and all the Nantucketers who have made Cy’s what it is Today! 

                                                                          Thanks so much 

                                                                             Scott, Mike, Greg and Bobby