{"id":46678,"date":"2026-04-10T12:40:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T12:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=46678"},"modified":"2026-04-10T12:40:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T12:40:00","slug":"beloved-nyc-restaurant-owners-world-crumbled-when-he-lost-300k-in-fraud-scheme-but-a-viral-post-saved-his-eatery-and-faith-in-the-city-i-couldnt-believe-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=46678","title":{"rendered":"Beloved NYC restaurant owner&#8217;s world crumbled when he lost $300K in &#8216;fraud&#8217; scheme \u2014 but a viral post saved his eatery and faith in the city: &#8216;I couldn&#8217;t believe it&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<br \/><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>It\u2019s a meat-free miracle.<\/p>\n<p>In recent months, the decades-old pioneering vegan East Village restaurant Caravan of Dreams was living a nightmare.<\/p>\n<p>Saddled by debt, allegedly swindled by a business partnership turned sour, and bogged down by an evolving East Village along with the lingering effects of the pandemic, the oldest vegan eatery in NYC was teetering on the edge of serving the last of its signature dishes, like creamy vegan burritos, crisp risotto croquettes and yummy tofu scrambles.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe were in danger of going under,\u201d Angel Moreno, Caravan\u2019s gregarious 76-year-old owner, admitted to The Post.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Angel Moreno sits on the steps next door to his restaurant, Caravan of Dreams, the oldest vegan restaurant in NYC.  <span class=\"credit\">OLGA GINZBURG FOR THE NEW YORK POST<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Moreno was $200,000 underwater in rent, debt and loans.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cI was borrowing money to keep it afloat, but it was not happening. So many people in the Village also moved away,\u201d Moreno said. \u201cI was asking people what we could do; maybe we\u2019d turn it into a nonprofit or co-op.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It turns out the hapless restaurateur\u2019s saving grace was right under his nose.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Brandon Stanton, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/humansofnewyork\/\">Humans of New York<\/a> mastermind who chronicles the extraordinary stories of ordinary New Yorkers on social media and through a series of popular books, just happened to be a regular customer.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t go out a ton, but when I do eat out, it was always at Caravan of Dreams,\u201d Stanton told The Post.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut it was a puzzle to me: the food\u2019s excellent, the people were wonderful, but it didn\u2019t have any foot traffic. I just never understood how the economics were working.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Moreno greets smiling guests at Caravan of Dreams, a restaurant he has run since 1991.  <span class=\"credit\">OLGA GINZBURG FOR THE NEW YORK POST<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>As luck would have it, one day Stanton\u2019s wife struck up a conversation with Moreno.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Not knowing he was talking to the spouse of a viral star with a legion of loyal followers, Moreno admitted the Caravan had hit bumps in the road that could derail the whole business.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The story was relayed to Stanton, and he tried to pry the proud owner\u2019s sour tale out of him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s charismatic, but a tough interview,\u201d Stanton recalled. \u201cI came home with all of my notes and wasn\u2019t sure how to even write his story.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Eventually, after also speaking with Moreno\u2019s partner, Mercedes Gallego, he crafted a post to his followers across <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DWROrMuDdPQ\/?hl=en&amp;img_index=1\">Instagram<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/humansofnewyork\/posts\/pfbid0FM3uzGs4euGZ89eKBoKxvJ3KqRnP61PNzXAVnvXjporE8phcHGUz7syLHk7h9Uvql\">Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAngel believes in his heart that Caravan of Dreams is contributing to a brighter future for the world,\u201d Stanton quoted Gallego saying.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd if he doesn\u2019t keep it open, the world will lose that future. He won\u2019t let go. He\u2019s driven by faith. He thinks all he has to do is believe.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram\"\/>\n<p>Stanton included the link for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gofundme.com\/f\/the-oldest-and-best-vegan-restaurant-in-nyc\">restaurant\u2019s anemic GoFundMe<\/a>, which had previously stalled out at a paltry $14,000.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Within days of the March 24 posting, Stanton\u2019s followers took heart in Moreno\u2019s story.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI didn\u2019t want to get his hopes up, but I had no idea it\u2019d galvanize so much attention,\u201d Stanton said.<\/p>\n<p>To date, it has raised more than $300,000 for Caravan of Dreams \u2014 saving the business and wiping out its debt.<\/p>\n<p>The formerly sleepy restaurant was also launched into viral influence, with customers queuing for hours in recent days, and the kitchen running out of ingredients.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>A jazz guitarist plays during a recent brunch at Caravan of Dreams. <span class=\"credit\">OLGA GINZBURG FOR THE NEW YORK POST<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>A festive menu (above) awaits customers at the restaurant. \u201cAngel believes in his heart that Caravan of Dreams is contributing to a brighter future for the world,\u201d Humans of New York content creator Brandon Stanton told The Post. <span class=\"credit\">OLGA GINZBURG FOR THE NEW YORK POST<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Moreno was so taken aback that he was forced to recruit friends to bus tables and wash dishes to keep up with demand.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe were overwhelmed \u2014 I couldn\u2019t believe it. I was crying just reading the comments,\u201d Moreno said.<\/p>\n<p>Adds Gallego: \u201cIt\u2019d be too cheesy for a movie, because you just can\u2019t make this up.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A native of Madrid, Spain, Moreno was a scholar in nutrition before moving to the United States in 1982. Inspired by his restaurant-owner father, he set out to spread the gospel of everything he learned.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Moreno is shown in an undated photo at his East Village eatery. <span class=\"credit\">Courtesy of Angel Moreno<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Diners sample the dishes recently at the cozy East Village restaurant. <span class=\"credit\">OLGA GINZBURG FOR THE NEW YORK POST<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It was a tall order: when Caravan of Dreams opened in 1991, veganism and clean eating were niche concepts. Even supermarkets like Whole Foods, with only a dozen stores by the following year, were a long way from going national.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou discover in life what you\u2019re good for, so I took a risk because I knew a lot about nutrition,\u201d Moreno said. \u201cI wanted to use my knowledge about pure organic food.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His risk soon became an East Village staple, with vegan aficionados traveling far and wide to chow down on gooey Reubens made with tempeh, a mushroom-loaded shepherd\u2019s pie, and fiery, immune-boosting libations like a smoothie made with turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves and basil.<\/p>\n<p>Moreno was a welcoming host. \u201cThe pleasure of serving for me is natural,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Moreno spends time with then-server Crystal Gloystein before she departed in 1992. <span class=\"credit\">Courtesy of Angel Moreno<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Moreno and Gloystein reunited for a hug during a 35th anniversary gathering at the restaurant. <span class=\"credit\">Courtesy of Angel Moreno<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Gloystein left a heartfelt note for Moreno when she left. <span class=\"credit\">Courtesy of Angel Moreno<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>For decades, the restaurant was chugging along and subsequently enjoyed the organic and vegan booms in the 2010s.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>But then it faced a one-two punch.<\/p>\n<p>Aside from the economic fallout for restaurants from the pandemic, Caravan lost many of its loyal customers as the demographics of the East Village shifted.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt started to become difficult to not just make it profitable, but sustainable,\u201d said Moreno.<\/p>\n<p>Seeking help as an exasperated Moreno approached his 70s, in 2024, he hired a manager he put his trust in.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI needed support, and he came from a culinary school. Let\u2019s just say he did things less than excellently.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Moreno, who invested money with the manager, now claims that he was actually cooking the books, taking advances without Moreno\u2019s knowledge, and putting the Caravan in a deep hole. <\/p>\n<p>In <a href=\"http:\/\/chrome-extension:\/\/efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj\/https:\/\/iapps.courts.state.ny.us\/fbem\/DocumentDisplayServlet?documentId=b8\/niwKTtO4sdlVZPPpqtg==&amp;system=prod\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a lawsuit filed last October<\/a> in the New York State Supreme Court, Moreno accused the manager \u2014 identified in court documents as Abraham Gross, along with co-defendant Nachum Chusid, aka Nick Levi and M&amp;N Funding Solutions, LLC \u2014 of a \u201cfraudulent investment scheme\u201d that promised a 20% annual return on $300,000 Moreno entrusted to them. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe were going to go bankrupt,\u201d said Gallego. \u201cWe had minimum stock, minimum everything!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Judgment is still pending. Chusid and M&amp;N Funding Solutions have moved to dismiss the complaint.<\/p>\n<p>The Post has reached out to Gross and Chusid for comment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn many ways, New York is like a \u2018Bonfire of the Vanities\u2019<em> <\/em>city,\u201d said Gallego during a brief break from the now-bustling restaurant.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt can be cold-hearted with everyone going for your throat. But what Humans of New York proved is that New York has a soul, and a lot of good people.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>The restaurant\u2019s cheery facade is shown in 2022. <span class=\"credit\">Courtesy of Angel Moreno<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>What heartens Moreno and Gallego the most is the nature of the donations he has received from concerned supporters. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cMost of them are five and 10 dollars,\u201d pointed out Gallego.<\/p>\n<p>Stanton recently visited and was astounded by the change inside.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe restaurant had so much energy and life,\u201d Stanton said. \u201cAngel only slept an hour the night before I went, and he was going table to table charming everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI couldn\u2019t believe the masses of people waiting outside,\u201d explained Moreno. \u201cNobody was upset, everybody was positive. They came with the attitude of helping and to support us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Still, he\u2019s flummoxed.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Moreno poses among recent customers. \u201cNew York has a soul, and a lot of good people,\u201d he told The Post. <span class=\"credit\">OLGA GINZBURG FOR THE NEW YORK POST<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cI like to study this kind of invisible energy,\u201c Moreno said, his voice hoarse from talking with his fresh crowds of customers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMagic happened \u2014 that\u2019s the explanation I can tell you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/04\/10\/lifestyle\/beloved-nyc-restaurant-owners-world-crumbled-when-he-lost-300k-in-fraud-scheme-but-a-viral-post-saved-his-eatery-and-faith-in-the-city-i-couldnt-believe-it\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s a meat-free miracle. In recent months, the decades-old pioneering vegan East Village restaurant Caravan of Dreams was living a nightmare. Saddled by debt, allegedly swindled&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":46679,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-46678","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46678","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=46678"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46678\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/46679"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=46678"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=46678"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=46678"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}