New book out about Dubrow's Cafeteria!

I've gotten a hold of Marcia Bricker Halperin's new book of photographs and essays about Dubrow's Cafeteria.  I'll be sharing some text excerpts over the next few months, but I suggest all lovers of Dubrow's go out and order your copy!  It's gorgeous and while Marcia has graciously shared many of her photographs here on this blog, this book contains so many more.  You won't be sorry to have them in your home.  

Photo of Dubrow's on King's Highway

Stumbled on this great photo of the King's Highway Dubrow's on this website.

Photo postcard from 1985

I purchased this off of eBay. What a great photo and also lovely little slice of oral history. The text of the postcard reads: 

"Dear Ethyl and Bill, 

I hope, Ethyl, that you've fully recovered from your accident. Too bad we won't be meeting in the old Dubrow's anymore but a new, smaller version is supposedly coming at the same location. When I walk by, I often get a nostalgic thought about the good old days. 

 Best, Dave"

The Manhattan Dubrow's closed in 1985.  I am not aware of any plans to open a smaller version in the same location, but this definitely did not happen.  

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."


 

JFK at King's Highway Dubrow's (Close up)

I think that memories of Kennedy campaigning at Dubrow's might win for the memory most commonly reported by people who have contacted me through this blog. It makes sense - it was clearly a big deal, and as these pictures show, hundreds or perhaps thousands of people showed up.

Edit: I found this article in Sheepshead Bites that has a nice description of one person's memory of Kennedy campaigning in front of Dubrow's. It also confirms what my sense was - Kennedy's assassination was one of the most defining event for Baby Boomers, and so many of them have also retained closely their memories of him as president and campaigning to become president.

 "My singular Kennedy experience was when the senator, after winning the Democratic nomination, campaigned in Brooklyn, in the summer of 1960, for New York’s 45 electoral votes. My friend Larry and I went to the rally along Kings Highway that stretched from Ocean Avenue to Coney Island Avenue, and onto several side streets, and waited hours among the jam-packed crowd. As we stood at the East 16th Street intersection, opposite Dubrow’s cafeteria, we were constantly pushed and shoved by others impatiently awaiting the candidate’s motorcade."

(Neil Friedman, Nov 23, 2013, retrieved from http://www.sheepsheadbites.com/2013/11/jfk-assassination-remains-a-defining-moment-for-baby-boomers/)

Great Manhattan photo

Found this photo on Flickr posted by a user named 365Bob:

Updated photos

It came to my attention a few weeks ago that the Buzznet, where I was previously storing all the Dubrow's photos, just up and disappeared from the internet. So I've now re-uploaded all the photos, and re-tagged some that I missed tagging the first time. Check them out.

Also, here's a photos of a Dubrow's matchbook from Eastern Parkway I never uploaded.   Enjoy!

Manhattan Dubrow's photo

Found this photo after searching Google images for Dubrow's cafeteria.  It's credited to Elaine Norman, 1985, which is the year the last Dubrow's location (Manhattan) closed.

Dubrow's on Miami Beach

My cousin, Joe Adler, sent me this email:

"Ray Fisher, a photographer who has documented Miami Beach for the last 70 years, just mailed me the attached picture of DUBROW'S on Lincoln Road.  Does it bring back memories?"

Eastern Parkway Dubrows, 1945

Reader Brian Merlis sent me this photo of Dubrow's on Eastern Parkway, circa about 1945. What a great find!

Photo from the nephew of a former employee

This photo comes from reader Richard Hackett, who writes "I have attached a photo of a tray that has been in my family for as long as I can remember. As you can see I still use it.It was given to us years ago by my uncle, Joe Hackett. I believe he worked for many years in the Manhattan Dubrow's."

Always great to hear about another Dubrow's employee. I've asked Mr. Hackett if he knew what his uncle did there. If anyone has recollections of Joe Hackett, post 'em here.

Photo of Paul Tobin

This is a pretty decent photo of Paul Tobin, who along with my grandfather Irving Kaplan managed the Manhattan Dubrow's for many years. He is the son of Max and Minnie Tobin; Minnie was one of Benjamin Dubrow's five children.  It's from the Daily News, March 21, 1985, so it's about the impending end of Dubrow's that happened a few month after this article was written. We learn who Dubrow's accountant and lawyer was through this article: Marvin Margolis.  He's quoted just before the article is cut  off.

What's interesting to note is that if you compare this article to the one I posted in the last entry, it becomes obvious that the previous article didn't use a current photo of Paul Tobin!  Look at the change in how much hair he has now and how much he has in the previous photo.

The man on the right is part of another story about a different Manhattan eatery.

The Last Cafeteria

From New York Magazine, October 16 1983: "They were places to kibitz and nosh and argue the fate of the world. And now they're almost gone..."

Dubrow's newspaper clipping

Well, Henry Jablonski and his family have really come through! As promised, his children came home to visit for Easter and helped Mr. Jablonski and his wife upload 32 pictures and articles about Dubrow's, which they they sent to me. What a treasure trove! Here's the first of the bunch.

Dubrow's cleaning crew

Here's the picture of the 1940 cleaning crew which Henry Jablonski refers to in the interview I conducted with him. He says that he is in this picture with his father - he started his career at Dubrow's as a boy and worked as a dishwasher. His father (Henry Jablonski Sr) was a counterman.  

Mr. Jablonski is the the young-looking boy who is fourth on the right.  His father is not in this picture.  The hand-written caption on the picture also names Mike Nagreski (spelling uncertain) and Pete Kolody and "German chef."  

Dubrow's cleaning crew

Another photo from Henry Jablonski: This one is from the Eastern Parkway Dubrow's cleaning crew in 1950.  Dotty Jablonski notes that Dubrow's was closed on the day of the photo because it was a Jewish holiday.

New York Governor at Dubrow's

A little more information about Henry Jablonski.  I am going to schedule a phone call in the coming weeks, but for now here's what I know: 

Mr. Jablonski was born on October 4, 1922.   He worked at the Eastern Parkway Dubrow's from 1947 to 1973, and then at the King's Highway Dubrow's from 1973 to 1978.  

This photo was taken in the 1950's, and the caption says "Simon Stark Mrs. Dubrow Harriman."   However, with the help of Dotty Jablonski I learned that the man in the center of this photo (and in the previous photo) is none other than former New York Governor W. Averell Harriman. He served as governor from 1955-1958.  

Group shot

This is another photo from Henry Jablonski, who it turns out was a manager at both Eastern Parkway and King's Highway.   The captions indicate that the woman sitting in the left corner is "Mrs. Dubrow," which either refers to Rose Dubrow (Benjamin Dubrow's wife) or Fannie Dubrow (George Dubrow's wife).  My guess would be the latter, which would make her Irwin Dubrow's mother.   The Asian man behind her is Nick Yang.  The man on Nick's left is Irwin Dubrow, and the man in the right corner of the picture is Henry Jablonski himself, along with Phil Podell.  The man at the center of the picture is listed as just "Harriman" but turns out to be a former New York governor.

There's obviously a number of people in this shot who aren't named.  Can anyone identify any of them?  If so, add a comment and let us know.