Lindy's facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lindy's |
|
|---|---|
The Lindy's location at Broadway and 51st Street; a look at the interior and the famous Lindy's cheesecake.
|
|
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1921 |
| Closed | February 7, 2018 |
| Street address | Manhattan |
| City | New York City |
| State | New York |
| Country | United States |
Lindy's was two different deli and restaurant chains in Manhattan, New York City. The first chain, founded by Leo "Lindy" Lindemann, operated from 1921 to 1969. In 1979, the Riese Organization determined that the Lindy's trademark had been abandoned, and opened new restaurants, the last of which closed in February 2018.
Locations
The original chain had locations at 1626 Broadway (at NE corner of 49th Street; now occupied by a Junior's Restaurant, as of October 2020) and 1655 Broadway (at NW corner of 51st Street; now occupied by a McDonald's Restaurant, as of October 2020).
The Riese's Lindy's were located at 825 7th Avenue (at 53rd Street) and 401 7th Avenue (at 32nd Street). The location at Seventh Avenue at W. 53rd Street was the last to close.
History
Lindy's was opened by Leo "Lindy" Lindemann (died 1957, Parkinson's disease) and his wife Clara on August 20, 1921, and was located at 1626 Broadway, between 49th and 50th Streets. A second location was opened at 1655 Broadway in 1929.
On April 5, 1956, Abraham Telvi, a mobster and hit man, attacked journalist Victor Riesel with acid, blinding him as he left the restaurant.
The original Lindy's location closed in 1957. Since June 2017, a Junior's Restaurant now occupies the venerated location.
In 1969, the 1655 Broadway location was acquired by Longchamps restaurants, who closed the restaurant in September 1969 to convert it into a steak house (it became a Steak & Brew and later a Beefsteak Charlie's).
Lindy's was especially well known for its cheesecake, which was at times credited as perhaps the most famous in the United States. The cheesecake was immortalized in Guys and Dolls, where Nathan Detroit and Sky Masterson sang its praises.
The "Lindy's" name and concept was resurrected in 1979 by New York City restaurant operator the Riese Organization, who determined that the name had fallen into the public domain, and later obtained the trademark.
