January 10, 2006
Trash Trucks Come for the 2nd Avenue Deli
By the time we got to the 2nd Avenue Deli, the sign was totally torn down and a "dismantling" truck had arrived. But 2nd Avenue Deli owner, Jack Lebewohl (right), was on the street, talking to reporters (he confirmed that it was in fact closed) and receiving condolences from neighborhood residents. Every few seconds, someone would stop in shock, ask what was happening, and then something along the lines of, "What a crime!" or "We can't go to Katz's - it's been going really downhill!"
It was pretty depressing to see the blue awning stripped away, because deep down, Gothamist hoped there would be some miracle deal, like some mystery investors would help the 2nd Avenue Deli out with its rent issues. But it seems the 2nd Avenue Deli is chopped liver (for now?).
We stepped inside momentarily, and it was messy. A crew kept carrying out all shelves and computers. It seems like most of the stuff is being dumped, though we couldn't quite find out what happened to the official sign. And no word if Lebewohl is taking the sign with his late brother Abe's name.
Let us know if you hear anything - neighborhood scuttlebutt, real estate rumors, conspiracy theories, you name it.
Eater has pictures of Jack Lebewohl closing up the deli.
And Gothamist's previous posts: 2nd Avenue Deli Closing Over $$$ Rent and 2nd Avenue Deli Heartbreak.
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Sad, sad, sad! How can we help?
Hopefully, the sidewalk plaques spotlighting the stars of Jewish stage will remain.
www.forgotten-ny.com
I don't know what will happen with the sidewalk plaques! People were wondering the same thing.
And when I asked Jack Lebewohl if it was really closed, he just nodded.
oy vey.
Fucking horrible.
My great-aunt, 103 years old, has been going to the 2nd Ave. Deli for fifty years. Everyone there knows her. A soup and pastrami sandwich lasts her two days, that's how big the portions were. The closure of the 2nd Ave Deli is a bigger Shonde than the closure of CBGBs would be.
My heart goes out to Jack. First the murder of Abe, then this. Can I get one last knish and some kasha to go????
The sidewalk plaques honoring Yiddish theater icons needs to be saved/preserved.
The lower east side is officially dead. Screw Katz's overpriced junk.
I wonder what is in the future for more NYC small businesses in this time of real estate greed.
Their soups were the best.
Why can't Katz's and their ilk go, instead?
whatzatname, the lounge next door? oh yeah, Lansky's.
I'm not sure 2nd ave deli is really small time. They would probably still be making money, even with the higher rent.
The place is always packed, and prices are insane. The way I look at it, they were crooks. Why does pastrami have to be sooo expensive?
The food is not even that great, and they charge for everything you ask for -- like extra bread.
I'm not sure 2nd ave deli is really small time. They would probably still be making money, even with the higher rent.
The place is always packed, and prices are insane. The way I look at it, they were crooks. Why does pastrami have to be sooo expensive?
The food is not even that great, and they charge for everything you ask for -- like extra bread.
While I hate to see any neighborhood institution go, I count myself as one who is kinda "meh" about 2nd Ave. deli leaving. It was horrendously expensive (I mean, I balked the first time I went. That much for some pastrami and bread???) and I really didn't think the food was that deserving of praise (my much Jewy-er friends agree with me on that one, so I feel validated). Want dirt cheap Jew food that'll lost for days? Yonah Shimmel's Knishes!
My Great Great Uncle and Aunt (Herman Yablakoff and Bela Meisel) share a star on the walk. If anyone finds out what's happening to the plaques I would really appreciate it if you would email me. My uncle tracked down my grandmother (his niece)in a DP camp after WWII and helped her come to America. I know when I tell her about this closing the plaque is the first thing she'll ask about.
While I am sad, I am still skeptical about how this all went down. didn't he negotiate the rent he was paying years ago? and then he said he didn't have enough money to pay for necessary renovations?
The food was good, but I'll bet that kitchen was not sanitary and really needed a lot of work.
Oh well. You can also go to Ben's up by Madison Square Garden for all of your cravings.
PS - has the "COMING SOON: APPLEBEE'S" sign gone up yet?
heh.
Also, the corned beef and chopped liver combo was the most gloriously unhealthy thing I've ever eaten (again and again and again). It will be missed.
In an unrelated story, shares or Merck & Pfizer drop amid much lower forecasts of sales for hypertension and high cholesterol medication in the New York City area.
I hate these greedy real estate SOBs who love killing New York institutions or quirky little places that make New York what it is. For some reason I have a feeling that they are going to stick an evil chain restaurant in there. Like we need another Starbucks.
However, the cynic in me has a feeling that they may restart operations elsewhere and this is all a ploy to get a white knight to come in and save them.
Lebewohl on the sidewalk begging for sympathy is laughing all the way to the bank! What a crook! You all should blame HIM for 2nd Ave Deli closing. He negotiated the rent hike. Instead of giving him codolences, why not ask him why he signed the contract?
"My great-aunt, 103 years old, has been going to the 2nd Ave. Deli for fifty years. Everyone there knows her. A soup and pastrami sandwich lasts her two days, that's how big the portions were. The closure of the 2nd Ave Deli is a bigger Shonde than the closure of CBGBs would be.
My heart goes out to Jack. First the murder of Abe, then this. Can I get one last knish and some kasha to go????"
Posted by: famdoc | January 10, 2006 03:24 PM
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The portions were not large - your aunt is a hundred and three.
In fact, the portions were small both for a New York deli in general and for the (unbelievably high) prices they charged.
Also, some of the food was overrated. The chicken soup tasted like it originated as powder.
But it was a real deli and there aren't too many of them left. (Although the neighborhood deli of my childhood, the Mill Basin Deli, continues to thrive.)
I remember during an adolescent exploration of Manhattan, stopping into the 2nd Av. for the first time and asking if I could simply get a grilled hot dog to walk down the street with. I expected a no because the Manhattan delis I had experienced to that point were touristy places that were really restaurants with a deli theme, not true delicatessens -- empires of sausages and sliced meat.
The guy behind the counter (was it Abe Lebewohl) said, "Of course. This is a deli."
I remebered that when my father and I enjoyed skimpy, expensive sandwiches there recently and I forgave them.
Screwed up my url when submitting previou comment. Here it is, corrected, in case anyone wants to click through: andrewjlederer.com/ajlblogtest.html
what they should do is move canal jeans just a little further uptown into the 2nd ave. deli space and a new and improved 2nd ave. deli can open in the old canal jeans space. the city will once again be balanced and whole.
what's with all the katz's haters? it's sad that 2nd avenue closed, but i would be truly heartbroken to see katz's go.
and moishe's bakery, russ and daughters, and yonah schimmel's better be okay, or i am officially depressed and/or moving.
You whiners are the ones who voted for Bloomberg. His economic policies and his reliance on Dan Doctoroff's recommendations are very BAD for small businesses all over the five boroughs. If you read the newspaper once in a while you'd know this.
You get what you voted for. The second Bloomberg term will see even more closings than you'll ever know.
Blaming Bloomberg now? You must be the second most retarded person after Lebewohl! At least he's made his millions and now closing shop because he doesn't want to pay the rent HE negotiated 15 years ago.
fine and schapiro's, folks. i know it's not LES but the kreplach and the extra lean corned beef is even better.
I have to say that I agree with the people who weren't huge fans of this place... I always thought they were a bit touristy (all those BEST CHOPPED LIVER trucks, which mind you were always traffic problems :), and it looked like it was probably a once-good place gone not-so-good. When I finally went their with some out of town friends (NOT my idea), there were 9 of us. They had a minimum of like $8 per person. Everyone ordered something like $14 of food each, except one person who wasn't hungry and ordered $6. The waitress insisted that she order more food - despite the fact that the party was well over the minimum total. And yes, the food wasn't very impressive (to me) - and we got the famous chicken soup and pastrami, yes.
To 'bite me': I was referring to the closings in general that we're witnessing, not specifically to this one event. The culture of throwing away New York's heart and soul to the highest bidder has been amplified under Bloomberg, and that's a fact. (Snapple deal, for example)
2nd AVE DELI-the victim of growing fascism in USA...Bloomberg must be very happy man today !!!
This whole story is very interesting !!!Former owners of building are owners of SHEA Stadium and METs team !!!They sold a few buildings last yr at 80.000.000$ profit in 13yrs!!!And Bloomberg,using our tax money is supporting their team !!!So METs owners can speculate on real estate big way !!!
I feel ZERO pitty for Mr Lebewhol, this guy is a thief and a 2 bit crook. He destroyed that place, this guy has somethin up his sleeve. The food wasn't that good anyway, Katz's is better.