- "The fashion industry, which I grew up in, is closely linked to hospitality; both are a reflection of the spirit of the times," says Jens Nørgaard. Together with his brother and father, he opened Café Europa in 1989, almost 30 years ago, inspired by contemporary Europe and the best of urban café life. Since then, it has cast its warm light over Strøget as a beacon on the Copenhagen café scene.
The Time Mirror on Amagertorv
The Nørgaard family succeeded in capturing the spirit of the times 26 years ago in the summer. The calendar showed 1989, a year with a very special resonance in European history. Today, Café Europa 1989 is itself a significant part of Copenhagen's urban history, as an institution on Amagertorv and in Danish café culture.
- The name "Europa" comes from our roots in European café culture. Back to the time around the opening in June 1989, the Europe debate was incredibly heated, and it was primarily when the Wall came down that our name became natural and gained its weight. Europe was back as a geographical concept and a continent," says Jens Nørgaard.
A life on Strøget
Jens Nørgaard practically grew up on Amagertorv. This is where his father opened his clothing store in the early 1960s, and where the family would shape a new life's work together three decades later. A few hundred meters beyond his father's iconic store, "Nørgaard på Strøget", Jens opened Café Europa in 1989, inspired by his time and the café culture of European cities.
On the team were his brother, Mads, and his father, Jørgen, both clothing designers and owners of their own clothing stores on Amagertorv. It is no coincidence that Café Europa 1989 now stands firmly on Strøget, as a reminder of the Europe of the past and a mirror of today's Copenhagen.
- Growing up, we always talked about opening a café, restaurant or hotel. So it was only natural to open a restaurant with my brother and father in June 1989. The premises were vacant and we wanted to use them to build on Amagertorv as the hub of Copenhagen. Café Einstein in Kurfyrstenstrasse in Berlin was our first role model," says Jens.
"The premises were vacant and we wanted to use them to build on Amagertorv as the hub of Copenhagen"
Jens Nørgaard
- The goal of Europa was to create an international-class café in Copenhagen. Built on repetition of quality and service. Simply the best of European café culture: From the espresso bars of Italy, the coffee and cake houses of Vienna, Spain's bar and tapas culture, France's bistros and Berlin's great cafés. Our first role model was Café Einstein in Kurfyrstenstrass in Berlin.
Hearts that beat for Copenhagen
Few people are as passionate about their city as Jens, Mads and Jørgen Nørgaard. In 2015, Mads was voted "Copenhagener of the Year" by the readers of Politiken. - Together, since 1989, we have fought to make Amagertorv the center of Copenhagen, because as the Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard said: "Amagertorv is the navel of the world". Today, we are beginning to see that the project has succeeded, and more and more trade is gathering around the square. Amagertorv is part of my DNA.
Amagertorv is located in the heart of Strøget, the famous shopping area that was turned into a pedestrian street in 1962, around the time when father Jørgen Nørgaard found his premises on Amagertorv.
- My daily work starts and ends at Europa, Amagertorv 1. It remains the hub of everything I do. And despite the fact that the entire business is growing and growing, Europa remains Europa - our backbone. This is not least due to the pulse of Strøget, a wonderfully busy pedestrian street. It pumps with life and energy. Strøget makes demands on us, we must always be on, present and active - the zeitgeist of Strøget.
"It pumps with life and energy. Strøget makes demands on us, we must be; on, present and active - the zeitgeist of Strøget."
Jens Nørgaard
The pedestrian streets that created the city
Café Europa 1989 was the first of its kind in Copenhagen and its immediate success reflected a need among the city's residents. Since opening in 1989, Nørgaard has seen Copenhagen grow into a metropolis, which is also reflected in Amagertorv.
- Today, we call Copenhagen a big city. With fashion, cafés, restaurants, culture and coffee shops. It is the city that has come into being in recent decades. The pedestrianization of Strøget in 1962 has changed the whole of Copenhagen. Most of all the center around Amagertorv with the "big ugly stork fountain" and Højbroplads. This has created a breeding ground for leading fashion stores and a rich café scene. Today, the whole area is an exciting city center, even though it was probably the same 30 years ago. But back then it was also characterized by heavy traffic and the majority of the shops in the small streets were antiquarian - simply a bit boring. It wasn't until 1992 that Café Norden opened, and since then three new cafés and restaurants have opened on the square.
"Strøget becoming a pedestrian street in 1962 changed the whole of Copenhagen. Most of all the center around Amagertorv with the "big ugly stork fountain" and Højbroplads"
Jens Nørgaard
Europe in development
With almost thirty years of business in the heart of Copenhagen, Café Europa has naturally evolved. But the atmosphere and style are unmistakable in 2016.
- Since the beginning, we have constantly optimized what we make, and we still do. This means that today we have acquired a level of professionalism and a product range that I believe gives us a justified position. It's been a long journey to reach the level we have today, a kind of educational journey," says Jens Nørgaard.
Although coffee has always been a central part of Café Europa, it was not until the late 90s that interest developed into passion.
- Back in 1999, we attended the Nordic Coffee Championships in Oslo. Here I learned that we had been making "marshmallow cappuccinos" throughout our first ten years of life. We changed that over the next year. At the same time, we became interested in the craft of barista, which has resulted in us having four world coffee champions over the years. Our guests have an expectation that we serve premium coffee and tea. And we do. But for us, it's important that it's not on an elitist level. Europe should serve good coffee to many, all the time, every day. Another good reason to choose the world's best coffee supplier, Solberg & Hansen," says Jens Nørgaard.
"Here I learned that we had made 'marshmallow cappuccino' throughout our first 10 years of life. We changed that in the next."
Jens Nørgaard
Jens' Copenhagen
There are few people who know the city better than Jens Nørgaard, which is perhaps why his tips for a day are more eventful than average. Not unexpectedly, it includes more than one stop at a café on Amagertorv.
- Always start with brunch at Europa. Then find yourself a city bike and take a trip to Christiania. Not to Pusher street, but a nice ride along Christianshavn's ramparts out to Refshavøyen. Take the harbor bus back to the city center for a coffee and snack at Galleri September in Gothersgate. Continue to the Botanical Gardens, and from there to Torvehallerne. Either lunch somewhere in Torvehallerne or continue by bike to Nørrebro, through Assistentens Kirkegård to Restaurant Manfreds in Jægersborggade.
- Then on to Frederiksberg for a coffee and a beer at Karmamann in Frederiksberg Allé. Then you can return to the city center for a quick visit to Vinbaren, Ved Stranden 10. At Christian you can get excellent food and drinks. Then it's back to Europe. An Espresso martini before dinner. Dinner at Europa. Evening beer at Palæ bar in Ny Adelgade. The very young go to Rubis, Lidkøb or Cafe Intime in Frederiksberg. Sleep well!