Reuben's Restaurant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Reuben's Restaurant |
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Menu circa 1943
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| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1908 |
| Closed | December 2001 |
| Previous owner(s) | Arnold Reuben Harry L. Gilman |
| Food type | Delicatessen |
| Street address | 244 Madison Avenue |
| City | New York City |
| County | New York |
| State | New York |
| Postal/ZIP code | 10016 |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 40°45′00″N 73°58′53″W / 40.7501278°N 73.9814707°W |
Reuben's Restaurant and Delicatessen was a very famous restaurant and Jewish deli in Manhattan, New York City. It was started by a man named Arnold Reuben. People loved its delicious sandwiches and lively atmosphere for many years.
Contents
History of Reuben's
How Reuben's Began
Arnold Reuben was an immigrant from Germany. He opened his first restaurant in 1908. It was located at 802 Park Avenue in New York City.
In 1916, the restaurant moved to Broadway. Two years later, it moved again to 622 Madison Avenue. Reuben's kept growing and changing locations.
A Grand Opening
Thirty years after it first opened, Reuben's Restaurant had a big, formal opening. This was at its new home on 6 East 58th Street. The mayor of New York City, Fiorello La Guardia, even came to the event!
Reuben's stayed at this location for a long time. It was a popular spot for many years.
New Owners and Closing Time
In the mid-1960s, Arnold Reuben sold the restaurant. Harry L. Gilman became the new owner. The restaurant then moved to 38th Street and Madison Avenue.
Reuben's continued to serve customers at 244 Madison Avenue. However, in December 2001, the restaurant had to close its doors.
Famous Stories and Sandwiches
Reuben's Restaurant was known for more than just its food. It had some interesting connections to history.
A Small Part in Sports History
In 1919, a big sports event happened. It was called the Black Sox scandal. This was when the Chicago White Sox baseball team was involved in a plan to lose the World Series on purpose.
A man named Abe "The Little Champ" Attell met with a powerful gambler, Arnold Rothstein. Their first meeting about this plan happened in a private room at Reuben's. So, the restaurant played a small part in this famous story.
Sandwiches for Stars
Arnold Reuben had a fun idea for his menu. He would name sandwiches after famous people! Celebrities like Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra had sandwiches named after them. This was a popular way for restaurants to attract customers back then.
What People Thought of Reuben's
Arnold Reuben's son, Arnold Reuben Jr., worked with his father. They ran the restaurant together for many years.
In 1986, a writer named Marian Burros wrote about Reuben's. She described its fancy look in the New York Times. She mentioned the "Italian marble, gold-leaf ceiling, lots of walnut paneling and dark red leather seats." To her, it felt like the perfect New York restaurant.
