Ament has run an African art gallery in Rochester for 20 years, 16 of them in the Park Avenue location. He decided to add a café to the gallery in December, saying he wanted to create the kind of place he'd like to take his wife, Andrea Elliott, for an outing. He modeled it after cafes that he has enjoyed on trips to Italy and aims to infuse it with the spirit of "Taranga," a catch-all phrase to describe hospitality that he picked up during his Peace Corps experience in Senegal. The father of two young children, Ament extends Jembetat's hospitality to children and babies, whom he often greets with cookies and gelato samples. Jembetat's menu also includes beverages, paninis and a variety of locally made desserts. There are plans to serve wine and beer as well.
Senegal RPCV founded the Jembetat African Art Gallery and Cafe in Rochester New York
Leave the cell phone home while visiting unique Jembetat African Art Gallery and Cafe
Erica Bryant – Staff writer
Business – April 17, 2010 - 5:00am
Caption: Peter Elliott of Rochester, left, Michael Bermudez of Webster and Rob Goodling of Rochester visit the café at the Jembetat African Art Gallery. The café has a no cell phone, no WiFi, no laptop policy. Photo: KRIS J. MURANTE staff photographer
Patrons of the Jembetat African Art Gallery and Cafe may sit next to a 70-pound shoulder mask from the Baga Tribe of Guinea. Or under a 100-year-old cross bow used by Pygmy hunters of Gabon. Or near a door decorated with crocodiles and fertility figures from the Dogon Tribe of Mali.
They will not sit next to a person ignoring his or her date to take a cell phone call.
Jembetat owner Robert Ament has instituted a no cell phone, no WiFi, no laptop policy at his establishment, a rarity among cafe's in the Park Avenue neighborhood where Jembetat is located.
Artwork from at least eight African countries surrounds the tables at Jembetat and Ament says he has aimed to create a space conducive to the appreciation of art, music, food and device-free communication.
"You can enjoy art without all the interruptions and unnecessary chatter," said Lori Barthlow, a Webster resident who visited the café on Tuesday. "It can help people be more mindful of their surroundings."
Ament has run an African art gallery in Rochester for 20 years, 16 of them in the Park Avenue location. He decided to add a café to the gallery in December, saying he wanted to create the kind of place he'd like to take his wife, Andrea Elliott, for an outing.
He modeled it after cafes that he has enjoyed on trips to Italy and aims to infuse it with the spirit of "Taranga," a catch-all phrase to describe hospitality that he picked up during his Peace Corps experience in Senegal.
The father of two young children, Ament extends Jembetat's hospitality to children and babies, whom he often greets with cookies and gelato samples. Jembetat's menu also includes beverages, paninis and a variety of locally made desserts. There are plans to serve wine and beer as well.
Customers are adjusting to Ament's efforts to steer clear of the wired communication culture that has taken hold in many cafes . Neighboring Park Avenue-area cafes Cibon, La-Tea-Da Tea Room and Parlour and Sugar Mountain Bake Shoppe, Spin Caffe and Roam Café allow cell phone use. All but Cibon provide free wireless Internet.
Jembetat barista Sarah Ciufo says that she supports the ban on cell phones and computers. "It's nice to know I can walk up to someone and not worry that I'm interrupting their Facebooking," she said.
Rochester resident Michael Brown thinks the lack of digital distractions at Jembetat will encourage the cafe's patrons to strike up conversations with other patrons. Having met his girlfriend Esther Arnold by asking her about a book she was reading in Spin Caffe, Brown is all for such spontaneous interaction.
"It could help spark other romances," he said.
Ament has put up extra signs to make sure people are aware of Jembetat's policy and says that offenders have been receptive when he has enforced it. So have their companions.
"You can see the person they are with is just totally relieved," he said.
"You can see their face brighten up because they are going to be getting the full attention of the person they're with."
EBRYANT@DemocratandChronicle.com
