Christopher & Nate’s Cafe will close its South Main Street location and relocate to Taunton, owner Christopher Silvia said in a video posted to the business’s Facebook page.
Silvia confirmed the move after previously announcing only that the cafe would close on November 25th as the owners prepared to open in a new city. He said he and partner Nate decided to share the destination despite advice from some people to wait until the last minute. “As someone who shares so much of my life with my followers, I just didn’t feel comfortable doing that,” he said.
Silvia acknowledged that the announcement drew strong reactions online once local pages picked it up. He said he was unbothered by the criticism and remains focused on the customers and supporters who have backed the café. “My only focus and concern are the people that I have that support me,” he said. “Those people have never and will never support me, so I don’t care about them.”
He emphasized that the relocation is not an abandonment of Fall River. Silvia said he still lives in the city, will continue posting updates on the page, and remains in contact with longtime supporters. “My humanity doesn’t have borders,” he said. “I’m merely moving my job from one city to another.”
According to Silvia, the idea began about a month earlier when a customer spoke positively about Taunton. He and Maddie visited on a Sunday and were struck by the appearance of the green, including its manicured condition, fall decorations, fountain, courthouse, and surrounding buildings. He described the scene as “picture perfect” and “magical,” especially in contrast to daily life in Fall River.
The visit led to suggestions from others that the city would be a good fit for the cafe. Silvia said he later checked out local restaurants and was contacted by Taunton’s downtown organization and its economic development representative. He credited the economic development contact with helping find and secure a location on Main Street near the green (rumored to be 73 Main Street), and he contrasted the experience with what he has seen in Fall River. He also noted the mayor’s regular promotion of local activities and quality of life as part of what drew him to the city.
A major practical factor, Silvia said, is the kitchen. For the past three and a half years he has operated out of a space he described as essentially a hallway, using an induction burner, KitchenAids, and a used oven. The Taunton location will provide a proper kitchen with a hood system and new professional equipment. “I created a kitchen out of duct tape and superglue,” he said. “The opportunity to have a kitchen with a hood system and all new equipment and professional equipment is just mind-blowing to me.”
Silvia said the owners are considering a possible name change to Madeline (for Maddie) but have not made a final decision. He closed the video by congratulating local election winners and calling the move the next adventure.
The café opened in March of 2023 at the previous site of Jeff’s Ice Cream. The Silvias transformed a neglected property into a cozy, community-focused spot known for its ever-changing, from-scratch menu featuring items like lobster rolls, Portuguese roasted chicken, pot roast, sandwiches, pastries, and coffee.
The Silvias have become known for more than the food. They organized neighborhood cleanups, free farmers markets, toy drives, sensory-friendly holiday parties, community funds for people who couldn’t afford meals, and free pizza for kids. The café helped revitalize the corner and drew both local residents and people from surrounding towns.
They later expanded with a short-lived second location (Christopher & Nate’s) at 99 South Main Street in the historic A.J. Borden Building, which opened in March of 2025 and closed a couple of months later. A North End location inside the New Boston Medical Center also opened.
