Burns' Coffee House, originally known as the DeLancey House, played a crucial role during the early days of America. Located across from Bowling Green, it provided a venue for socializing and business. On October 31, 1765, New York merchants signed the New York Non-Importation Agreement here, pledging not to purchase British goods in protest of the Stamp Act. Later, this site is believed to have housed Benedict Arnold after his defection from the American military, marking its place in both patriotic and controversial chapters of American history.

The early records of the city infrequently mention the Burns coffee house, sometimes calling it a tavern. It is likely that the place was more an inn than a coffee house. It was kept for a number of years by George Burns, near the Battery, and was located in the historic old De Lancey house, which afterward became the City hotel.

Illustration taken from&nbsp;'All About Coffee' by William H Ukers.It stood for many years on Broadway, opposite Bowling Green, in the old De Lancey House, becoming known in 1763 as the King's Arms, and later the Atlantic Garden HouseBurns remained the proprietor until 1762, when it was taken over by a Mrs. Steele, who gave it the name of the King's Arms. Edward Barden became the landlord in 1768. In later years it became known as the Atlantic Garden house. Traitor Benedict Arnold is said to have lodged in the old tavern after deserting to the enemy.