Last Elaine Norman photos

More photos from Elaine Norman

Here's the second of three posts with Elaine Norman's photos of the Manhattan Dubrow's location.  All photos were taken on the last day in 1985.

More photos from Elaine Norman

Back in February I posted how I randomly stumbled across this photo of the Manhattan Dubrow's in a Google search. It was credited to Elaine Norman.

This evening, Elaine Norman contacted me and sent me MORE amazing photos of the Manhattan Dubrow's. Here's three of them. More to come over the next few days. Here's what Elaine had to say:

 "I came across your blog after reading the New York Times page with Marcia Bricker Halperin’s wonderful photos of Dubrow’s. It brought back a lot of memories for me when I worked as a textile designer in the Garment Center. Occasionally, I would eat at Dubrow’s (when not bringing my lunch) and loved the appealing, old-world vibe of the place. I’m sending along some of my photographs that were taken shortly before the auction in 1985 (you currently have one of my photos on your blog). Sadly, even the once-vibrant and bustling Garment Center, like so much of New York City’s noteworthy neighborhoods, is becoming a thing of the past. It’s good that you have this homage to such a distinctive place in the history of this city."


 

Great article with more photos of Dubrow's

Marcia Bricker Halperin is very familiar to readers of this blog, as several of her photos have been featured here. Well, now you can see more!  Over at the blog Jeremiah's Vanishing New York she recalls what made Dubrow's so special, as well.  This seems particularly relevant for readers here, especially as it quotes directly from this blog:

"Dubrow's is often called the "last cafeteria." In one of the articles on the Dubrow's Blog it's described as a place to "kibitz and nosh and argue the fate of the world." What is the value of kibitzing, noshing, and arguing our fate? What allowed it to happen at a place like Dubrow's and where do you think it happens today?

There's a theory about communities called "Third Places." After your home and your workplace comes the need for some social institution. The Irish had bars, the Italians had social clubs, but Jews had cafeterias in New York. They came to eat, but just as importantly to talk. Of course cyberspace is like a "third place" now. The demise of cafeterias was tied to the rise in affluence. People opted for waiter service and felt it was beneath them to carry their own tray. Cafeteria chains prevailed much longer in the South and Midwest where it wasn't until the last decade that many have closed, but they lacked the opulence of the big city ones.

The closest you can come to the feel of an old cafeteria today is at Katz's Deli. The ticket machine, the long counter on one wall, the frenetic feel with people carrying trays laden with Jewish-style foods in search of an empty table. The sound is reminiscent of old cafeterias too--cutlery rattling and lots of conversation. But I don't think you would scour the tables for a familiar face or a comfortable table to share and strike up a conversation with a stranger. By contrast, the dozens of coffee joints around my neighborhood are tomb-like since almost everyone is on their laptop."

Also, I discovered someone (perhaps Marcia Bricker Halperin herself, seeing as how her photo shows up here, too) submitted Dubrow's Cafeteria to the blog "Place Matters" with a link to this blog.  I agree! Places do matter.  And if there's one thing I have learned from the years of maintaining this blog, it's that Dubrow's did matter.  And still does.

Dubrow's in the NY Times again

Marcia Bricker Halperin has taken many photos of Dubrow's - as well as many other landmarks of NYC - and her work is featured in the New York Times. Dubrow's referenced, as well as many other great NYC eateries. Check it out!

Dubrow's New York Style Deli inspired by Dubrow's Cafeteria

I was so confused when I saw this restaurant, located in Houston, Texas, that I had to email the owner via their website. The owner is even named Ziggy Gruber, and Gruber, is a family name in the larger Dubrow extended family. But I got this response:

Dear Eve, 
I am not related in anyway to the Dubrow family. My name is Ziggy Gruber I am third generation delicatessen owner. My family had the first delicatessen on Broadway called the Rialto they also had numerous other delis all around the city like Bergers on 47 st and in the suburbs Cresthill kosher deli in Spring Valley New York and the Woodrow kosher deli in Hewlett Long Island. My father's brother my uncle's name is Seymour and that is a coincidence. My uncle Norman who is much older than me technically is my cousin his name is Norman Rappaport. My family has been a deli dynasty in New York since the early 1900s. I presently own a well-known deli called Kenny and Ziggys in Houston Texas. We were looking to expand to a new concept that was a combination of Jewish delicatessen foods and Houston's restaurant that serves steaks, fish and cocktails. While trying to come up with a name for this concept. I was thinking about old Jewish restaurant names and Dubrows came to mind. My patent attorney did a trademark and patent search and saw the name Dubrows was abandoned for many years. So we applied and received the mark. There is presently a documentary out called Deli man and if you see it you will see it is my goal to perpetuate Jewish culture through food and if you have ever eaten my food or read our reviews you will see I will do the great name of Dubrows justice. I hope this clarifies the mystery. If you have anymore questions don't hesitate to contact me
All the best,
Ziggy Gruber


So there you have it. An homage to Dubrow's down in Texas, from someone unrelated to the family. I'd love to know from anyone in Houston if his restaurant even vaguely resembles Dubrow's Cafeteria.

Request for Dubrow's tuna salad recipe

Reader Andrew Suser asks for it. Now, tuna salad seems easy enough to make so if the Dubrow's recipe was unique or special it's got to be in the seasonings or the add-ins. Anyone recall it want to help Andrew out?

Letter from the daughter of a Miami Beach Dubrow's employee

I received an email from Carole Chapman, who had this to say about her father Carl Kobitz:

"Hi
After my dad was discharged from the navy he moved to Miami Beach. The next day he got a job at dubrows in 1946. He worked the season and managed to save $3000! He started as a bus boy and moved up to be a server.
My dad is still alive and he is 91!"

Nice to hear from someone outside the family who worked at the Dubrow's in Miami Beach.  Anyone out there remember Carl?