ADDRESS: 15/17 Nowy Świat Street
OPENING DATE: unknown
The café was founded by the artists of the Ateneum Theatre and National Theatre. At first it was called “Café Jaracz”. Stefan Jaracz, as a host, would sit at the so-called “masters’ table”, where one could drink with him “half of the dark one” and discuss theatre and the current political situation. The café was an elegant place, conveniently situated at the crossroads of Nowy Świat Street and Aleje Jerozolimskie, thanks to what it instantly became very popular. This popularity however quickly caught the attention of the German authorities, which already in 1940 made the place “nur für Deutsche” [Ger. 'only for the Germans’] and named it “Café Club”. On the 24th October 1942, a well-known attack took place there. At 7 pm, Roman Bogucki threw a bunch of grenades through the window, which exploded and hurt few guests. After that, the Polish community suffered a lot of repression from the Germans.
WSPOMNIENIA
repression from the Germans.
Guests
[…] Jaracz would wait for us in the lodge every day. Taciturn, with his eyes half closed, he was like a film star, the seducer Kot Wojciechowski - husband of Zosia [Zofia] Grabowska. There was also a friend of Hanka [Anna] Jaraczówna, a Jew, who successfully finished every, even most complicated, transaction. And of course Damian [Dobiesław Damięcki]. This crowd would have lively debates for hours. We did accounting, summarized our profits. I would almost always, I mean not me but Damian, sink money into the business, but he took it with humour.
Irena Górska-Damięcka, Wygrałam życie, Prószyński i S-ka, Warszawa 1997.
Attack
On 11th July 1943, we popped in to [Elna] Gistedt’s place to wish her happy birthday. When we got there, the attack took place. In “Café Club” a time bomb exploded. We saw a mad panic through the windows. Witnessing that, we rushed to our place at Mazowiecka Street.
Marian Wyrzykowski, Dzienniki 1938–1969, Instytut Sztuki PAN, Warszawa 1995.
About the place
Habitual guests would gather here every day, circulating between the tables with their small black ones. It was here where the trade of all kinds would take place - from spirit to promissory notes.
Irena Górska-Damięcka, Wygrałam życie, Prószyński i S-ka, Warszawa 1997.
Atmosphere
Its small inside and the always-dimmed lights created the intimate atmosphere of “Café Jaracz”.
Anna Strzeżek, Od konspiracji do konsumpcji, Wydawnictwo TRIO, Warszawa 2012.
History
Once, when [Dobiesław Damięcki] did his three day run, a group of armed Germans and guys in those Tyrolean huts entered “Café Jaracz”. The uproar arouse, people rushed to the way out. Roundup! Out of all, the only ones who stayed were the silent [Stefan] Jaracz, we - the waitresses, and the drunk Damian [Dobiesław Damięcki]. They left Jaracz alone, however they went for Damian. But he got up from his chair, looked at them with contempt and begun to insult them loudly. They got scared, thinking he was some Nazi dignitary. They apologized and… left the place. We managed again..
Irena Górska-Damięcka, Wygrałam życie, Prószyński i S-ka, Warszawa 1997.
