MacDougall's first establishment, the Little Coffee Shop in Grand Central Station, opened in 1919.
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.
This change transformed shop  into a coffee house to operate as both a cafe and a retail outlet for MacDougall's products.
Waffles and hot coffee were the house specialty.
These menu items become the inspiration for her first publication, Coffee and Waffles.
Her small coffee business was only the beginning of her successes, and within ten years MacDougall had opened four other coffee houses in New York state.
MacDougall's first establishment, the Little Coffee Shop in Grand Central Station, opened in 1919. 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. This change transformed shop  into a coffee house to operate as both a cafe and a retail outlet for MacDougall's products. Waffles and hot coffee were the house specialty. These menu items become the inspiration for her first publication, Coffee and Waffles. Her small coffee business was only the beginning of her successes, and within ten years MacDougall had opened four other coffee houses in New York state.
Alice Foote MacDougall