Michael Gross, Owner of New Prospect Cafe, Dies

In 1984, Michael Gross opened the New Prospect Cafe, one of the first upscale (and organic) eateries back when Park Slope was a foodie desert. Later he opened New Prospect At Home, a gourmet take-out shop on Seventh Avenue. He died last week of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Longtime friends, Ann Smith and Richard Glassman, wrote to OTBKB with this heartfelt remembrance.

Michael Gross, 8/2/51-7/25/10

It is with great sadness that we write this piece in memory of my dear friend Michael Gross.  Many will remember Michael as owner of the New Prospect Café,  opened in 1984 with his wife Stacey Cretekos, and then partner John Quimby, and the New Prospect at Home bakery and catering.  Michael died after a two  year battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) one week before his 59th birthday.

Among the many gifts he brought us, his talent in the restaurant business is most notable to the many lives he touched through his creativity in food preparation, and hospitality to those who ate at his restaurant, hired him for catering, or came by the bakery. For Michael, owning a restaurant was not just about food, but about the people for whom the food was prepared.  Prior to going into the restaurant school in Boston where he trained in the late ‘70’s,  he said that he wanted to learn as much as he could about cooking because through good food he could connect with others.  When Michael was in the restaurant, he was always interested in whether customers were happy. He loved to give an extra appetizer here and there, or offer a glass of wine.

After moving to Rockland County he opened Relish, in Spark Hill, which again brought together his love of food, hospitality, generosity and connection to people.

Not only in the food business did Michael have a following, but in his friendships with people from grade school throughout his life. His room at the hospice where he spent the last seven months of his life, was always filled with family and friends.  He was so widely loved.

The memorial was held in Nyack, NY on the banks of the Hudson. Family and friends spoke eloquently and passionately, reminiscing about their lives with Michael.   He touched all of us who knew him, and his kindness lives on.

–Ann Smith and Richard Glassman

6 thoughts on “Michael Gross, Owner of New Prospect Cafe, Dies”

  1. I am so sorry to hear of Micheal’s passing.
    I worked at New Prospect home for a long time and he was a great boss.
    He is one of the reasons I decided to open my own catering business.

    He will be greatly missed

  2. Dearest Stacey and family,
    My thoughts and heart felt condolences go out to you. Please know that because of Michael’s love and spirit, he has left you with many strengths. You are survivors and will carry on as Michael would want.
    In deepest sympathy,
    Mark and Lainey

  3. Michael, John and I purchased the Garden Cafe, then located at 393 Flatbush Ave, in the winter of 1984, and opened the New Prospect Cafe six weeks later. Few other restaurants could be classified as other than Italian, Chinese or diner in Park Slope at the time, if you can believe that. There was the one on 9th and PPW – the Rainbow Restaurant? Years later Michael and I attended a big birthday bash for Fonda there. Thank you Fonda, Gilly and Joy for your comments. You were all among our most loyal customers, and I treasure your remarks here, as would Michael.

    The cafe was an instant big hit, and we headed enthusiastically into our future as restaurateurs. Two years later we opened the New Prospect At Home on 7th Avenue and had a wild and wonderful 14 years there. Kids, brownstones, temple, schools, friends – Park Slope was very very good to us. Thank you all.

    The parking drove us (OK me) away. Up here in the burbs I can park a stone’s throw from everywhere I want to go, but I miss the Slope terribly, especially now that Michael’s memories of our time there are gone. The last 18 months of Michael’s life were a blend of awful and wonderful, with a plethora of loving friends easing his way, giving more than we could have hoped for – Michael was spirited and loved to his last moment. Thank you Park Slopers, Windsor Tarracers, Cobble Hillers, Fort Greeners, etc etc etc. I miss you.

    And I love you Ann and Richard for a lot of reasons, but right now for your labors on the obit above.

  4. i am also heartbroken to hear of michael’s illness and passing. we have been out of touch since his move out of brooklyn but the many years that i knew him, stacey and their family are filled with fond memories.
    michel was truly one of the nicest men i ever knew. in business he was always honest, easy going, hard working. he was a good boss to his employees, a conscientious business owner concerned with satisfying his customers, and a wonderful, loving friend. just seeing him was enough to brighten up any day.
    how sad for his family to lose him. my heart goes out to stacey and the children.

  5. when we lived on Plaza Street, from 1988 to 2000, New Prospect cafe was home away from home for us…Michael was always a great host, with wonderful, warm welcomes, and lovely tales from the kitchen and the woods….
    the food was deliciously comforting, and we followed him eagerly to the 1st takeout place on 7th ave. what a loss it was to us when he left the neighborhood, though we were glad to know he was exploring a supposedly less hectic routine than the exhausting hours of a NYC restauranteur…
    its more than a double loss to know he is gone for good.
    Gilly

  6. I am so sorry to hear this news about Michael. I have total fond memories of NPC and remember when Michael and Stacey opened the restaurant and then the takeout. There was even a brief takeout place on 12th St and Seventh Avenue with homemade ice cream. Really sweet, caring people. This is sad news…

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