Trax Cafe in Ambler switches to private dining
In recent months, just as Trax's weeknight business had slowed down, owner Steve Waxman found himself booking lucrative parties for random nights.
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Trax Cafe, a fixture by the SEPTA tracks in Ambler for 20 years, has shifted its focus.
It no longer is open for a la carte business. It now serves only private parties.
Chef/owner Steve Waxman, 58, said he was seeking a lifestyle change. He added that he was negotiating with SEPTA for a new five-year lease with optional extensions.
He emphasized that Trax was not closed, as had been rumored on social media.
In recent months, just as Trax's weeknight business had slowed down, he found himself booking lucrative parties and catering jobs for random nights.
"In the past, I seldom closed on the weekends because I wanted to be consistent for my customers," he said. "I had an a-ha moment and knew that this was my new model — more sustainable and easier to manage." He also has offsite private catering clients.
This is not Waxman's first pivot.
Trax opened in spring 1998 as a cafe and takeout shop featuring grab-and-go refrigerator. With McDonald's selling 59-cent coffee next door at the time, volume didn't materialize. He turned it into a restaurant after six months.