Exhibit on the Jewish Deli at the New York Historical Society

 I certainly have written about delis many times in this journal.  This new exhibit prompted me to make a return visit. The society's website states, "Our special exhibition examines how Jewish immigrants, mostly from Central and Eastern Europe, imported and adapted traditions to create a uniquely American restaurant and reveals how Jewish delicatessens became a cornerstone of American food culture."

I was especially amused by a video that shows how delis were portrayed in TV shows and movies including the famous scene in "When Harry Met Sally."

Delis portrayed in the exhibit include:

• Second Avenue Deli
• Katz's Deli
• Stage Deli
• Ben's Deli at 7th Avenue and 38th Street - site of the famous Oldies Meet and Greets
• Ben's Best Deli in Rego Park

Do you remember this advertisement scene decades ago in the NYC subway?

It is sad that so many kosher delis have closed over the years.  Likely, changing demographics is the primary reason for their demise.  Restauranteurs should try to apple to all ethnicities.

Deli Man The Movie

I was intrigued about the documentary Deli Man as soon as I was aware of its existence.  I found out that it was playing at the Kew Gardens Cinema.  We generally go there a few times a year to see an independent film.  That is a movie theater the way it ought to be in a residential area away from shopping malls.

In February 2008 in this journal I wrote about the demise of kosher delis in Queens.  That theme is discussed on a national scale in this film  In 1931 there were thousands of delis in the USA with 1550 in NYC alone, but now perhaps only 150 still exist in North America.  There were interviews with restauranteurs of the well known delis that remain.  Much of the movie considered Kenny and Ziggy's in Houston.  David "Ziggy" Gruber appeared numerous times in the movie as he inherited the business from his parents and grandparents.  He was very attached to his family and the deli and figuratively was married to it.  At the end of the movie he went to Hungary the home of his grandparents and got married.

Jay Parker, the owner of Ben's Best Deli in Rego Park, was featured throughout the film.  While growing up in Rego Park I would go there and pick up food to bring home.  I remember that Ben who has since passed on had a big mouth and was very much a braggart. His food was excellent! Back in the 1960s I remember:

• Julie's Deli on Queens Blvd. near the Rego Park Jewish Center
• Dave-Ed's on 63rd Drive near P.S. 139

Ben's Best in Rego Park is not to be confused with the Ben's Deli with restaurants in Bayside, Manhattan, Long Island and Boca Raton.  The latter Ben's is the location of the famous Oldies Meets and Greets.  It's owner, Ronnie Dragoon, was interviewed briefly at the Boca Ration Location.  I can not understand why it is called Ben's when the owner's name is Ronnie.

Certainly not all the 150 delis remaining could be featured in the film, but I was disaapointed that Mendy's Glatt Kosher Deli did not appear.  I think that the director/producer Erik Greenberg Anjou could have explained what is meant by Glatt Kosher.  He did include translations of some Yiddish terms which are likely not familiar to Gentiles watching the film.

It was briefly noted that the demise of the Kosher Deli is likely caused by demographic changes.  I have certainly observed that in Queens.  I suggest that owners of these establishments try to market themselves to potential customers of different religions and national origins.

This is the best movie that I have seen in a very long time.

Review in the Los Angeles Times

Kosher Deli's in Queens

Today, Karen, Lee and I walked around Alley Pond Park.  On the way back we stopped at Buddies Deli on 73rd Avenue for a few hot dogs and fries.  We discussed the Kosher Delis in Queens that have folded the ones still left.  Here goes:

Still Left

Bens in Bayside - there are several Bens on Long Island and one in Manhattan where the Meet and Greets were held

Bens Best Deli in Rego Park - this is not affiliated with the Ben's above.  I have been going to this one since the 1950s

Deli Masters in Fresh Meadows - this is across the street from the former site of the WTFM and WAPP studios

Buddies in Bayside wher we ate today

Queens Deli's no longer around

Pastrami King in Kew Gardens - this was right next to the Court House.  One of the only good things about jury duty was having this restaurant nearby

Julies in Rego Park - I remember this right next to the Rego Park Jewish Center in the early 1960s

Surreys on Union Turnpike - when I worked at St, Johns in the early 90s, this was nearby

Fassbergs - this was around the corner from where I now live.  It changed names and owners a few times.  It became Reubens, Kosher King, and Flushing Delight before becoming a Korean restaurant in 1995

I think these restaurants closed because the Jewish population in Queens has declined.  Here is an invitation to Dave from Chicago.  If you ever come to Queens, I will take you on a tour of these restaurants

There are some kosher delis in Manhattan.  There is Mendy's on 34th Street and Park Avenue which is Glatt (strictly) Kosher.  We had some gatherings of oldies radio enthusiasts there since one of our friends was observant.  The Stage and Carnegie Deli's are kosher style which is an oxymoron.

Perhaps the Distinguished Professor of Saturday Night who lives in Manhattan can give some more information

 

Queens has lost another Kosher Deli

I found at this week that Deli Masters in Fresh Meadows, Queens has closed. I think that changing demographics have forced family owned kosher delis to close. Younger Jews are moving to the suburbs instead of staying in the inner city while senior citizens are passing away. The only kosher delis that remain in Queens are:

• Ben's Best - Rego Park
• Ben's - Bayside
• Buddies - 73rd Avenue in Oakland Gardens
  

Ben's Best Deli in Rego Park Will Close on June 30 After 73 Years

Regular readers of Bruce's Journal know that once a year or so I walk around Rego Park and observe what has changed over the years.  Ben's Best Deli is one of the few businesses that has remained at its original location since I grew up there in the 1960s.  I found out yesterday that it will be closing on June 30 after being in business since 1945.  I remember my mother sent me there on Sunday afternoons to pick up delicatessen for dinner.  My dad always liked to eat specials (knockwurst) while I ate either salami or pastrami.  I remember Ben Parker who at times was a braggart about the quality of his food.  After he passed away his son Jay took over the business.  He was interviewed for the documentary Deli Man a few years ago.

I reported here in 2008   about the demise of several kosher delis in Queens over the years.  Likely, those delis lost their customer base since the Jewish population in the area has declined.  I understand that there are many Bukharin Jews living in Rego Park, but have their own kosher restaurants and may not patronize Bens.  Very often businesses close since their landlords raise their rents dramatically making it financially impossible to keep going.

It certainly will be the end of an era in Rego Park,

Random Thoughts of the Day - May 6, 2024

On Saturday Lee and I drove from Flushing to Bayside to eat at Ben's Deli I saw five Amazon delivery vehicles.  My experience with deliveries from Amazon has usually been good, but I think they lost one of my deliveries.  I received an email stating it was delivered to my apartment.  I didn't get it.  I assume it was brought to the wrong apartment.  Hopefully, the neighbor who received it by mistake will bring it to my apartment. If not, I'll ask for a refund.

The dining room was almost empty when we went to Ben's on Saturday night at about 5 PM.  I hate to see that since as reported in this journal before so many Kosher Delis in Queens have closed over the years. If Ben's closes there will be none left.

My three SABR projects have kept me busy lately.

Tonight, I will juggle Jeopardy (regular show and Masters Tournament), the Knicks, and the Mets.  The post-season tournaments will last until June.  The more games they play, the more money they make.  Tickets at Madison Square Garden in the 200 level can cost $500.  There will always be a sellout.

 

Corned Beef Sandwich Today

I am intentionally not posting a photo of a corned beef sandwich with the journal entry since I don't want to annoy a regular reader of this journal from the midwest where there are not New York style kosher delis.  The tables were turned today.  Karen went to work at a local school while Lee and I had the day off.  The two of us went to Crocheron Park in Bayside where we got some exercise and some reading done.  I read the current issues of Sports Illustrated and the Sporting News while Lee finished one of his Harry Potter books.  From there we went to Ben's Deli and had enjoyable lunch.  I am on vacation, let me enjoy myself.

                                                 Crocheron Park

Google Analytics and this Journal

Google Analytics is a tool where people can analyze the activity of a web site. I have used it for most of the time the Bruce's Journal has been in existance. Some facts:

• This journal averages about 25 hits per day
• The most popular post is about my top 10 followers on Facebook
• All of a sudden a book review I wrote about Bill O'reilly has gotten many hits. I commented that he has very strong Catholic values
• For a while an entry about kosher delis closing in Queens closing received a lot of hits
• For over a year articles that I wrote about Don K Reed and Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor have been popular.
• Google analytics can not reveal the identity of a viewer, but sometimes I can figure out who it is from the geographic location.

Staycation Day #1

For many years I have never been able to sleep late in the mornings on days when I don't go to work.  I am alway awake before 6 AM and am out of bed shortly after.  I decided to catch up on some reading after my morning ritual on the internet.  I read the magazine section of the New York Times for about 1 1/2 hours.  Then I read about 3 issues of the Chemical & Engineering News to catch up on the events of the chemical enterprise.  I still value my education background in chemistry.  I decided to drive over to Great Neck and walk around.  I stopped by the Kensington Deli and had a pastrami sandwich.  I have eaten at many delis in my life but this one sets the record for fast service.  Great Neck still has a sizable Jewish population as I passed by several synagogues on my walk around town.

Mini Oldies Meet and Greet in Boca Raton Florida

I met Stu Dolgon in the mid 1990s on the AOL WCBS-FM folder.  Mary Shaw, Al Gordon, and Linda Cohen were the other regular posters.  Stu came to a few of the gatherings that we had in Ben's Deli over the years.  A few years ago Stu retired and moved to South Florida, but kept in touch with the NYC Oldies Radio Enthusiasts.

Today we met up at the Ben's Deli in Boca Raton.  It offered the same menu as its sister restaurants in NYC and Long Island.  It was much larger than the delis in Bayside or Manhattan.  Stu said that it was the only kosher deli in the region. Apparently there it appeals to Jewish retirees from the New York area.

They Are Treating Me Like A King

Sarah, Minglu, Au, Bruce, Ann, Bonnie, Wen

Las Thursday the librarians from Rutgers took me to lunch at a "kosher style" restaurant in Newark called Hobby's.   The term kosher style is an oxymoron since food is either kosher or it is not.  It is obviously not kosher when cheese is put on top of meat.  This restaurant also served an egg cream where milk is put in with chocolate syrup.  Hobby's similar to the Stage and Carnegie Delis which closed which are not kosher.  Thank you all for the wonderful lunch.

Professor N.M. Ravindra (Ravi)

The distinguished gentleman seen above is physics professor N.M. Ravindra better known as Ravi.  Over the years I have assisted him and his students numerous times.  Today he took me to a Japanese/Chinese restaurant in Harrison called Chinatown.  It seemed strange that a restaurant served food from both countries.  Thank you so much.  It was my pleasure to serve you for all the years I have been at NJIT.