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Russ & Daughters facts for kids
| Russ & Daughters | |
|---|---|
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| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1914 |
| Current owner(s) | Josh Russ Tupper and Niki Russ Federman |
| Food type | appetizing store |
| Dress code | Casual |
| Street address | 179 E Houston Street |
| City | Manhattan |
| State | New York |
| Postal/ZIP code | 10002 |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 40°43′21″N 73°59′18″W / 40.72259°N 73.98832°W |
| Other locations | Hudson Yards |
Russ & Daughters is a famous food store that opened in 1914. It is known as an "appetizing store," which means it sells foods like smoked fish, bagels, and other tasty items. You can find it at 179 East Houston Street in the Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. This store is a true family business and has been in the same spot since 1920.
The Story of Russ & Daughters
The story of Russ & Daughters began with Joel Russ. He was a Jewish immigrant who came to Manhattan around 1905 from Poland. Joel started his business to serve other Jewish immigrants who were settling in the Lower East Side.
He began by carrying Polish mushrooms on his shoulders to sell. Joel saved enough money to buy a pushcart. Soon, he expanded his business to sell pickled herring, a type of fish, along with his mushrooms. In 1914, Joel Russ opened his first small store. He called it "J Russ International Appetizers." It was just around the corner from where the store is today.
In 1920, Joel Russ moved his store to its current home at 179 East Houston Street. A big change happened in 1933. Joel renamed the business "Russ & Daughters." He did this because he made his three daughters, Hattie, Anne, and Ida, partners in the store.
Usually, family businesses were named "and sons." But Joel and his wife Bella only had daughters. So, his business became "Russ & Daughters." Joel wasn't thinking about women's rights at the time. He was focused on making a living for his family. He wanted to know, "From where do we take our living?"
His daughters had worked in the store since they were about 8 years old. They helped out on weekends, even pulling herring fillets from big pickle barrels. After finishing high school, all three daughters worked full-time. Joel kept the store open every day of the week.
Russ & Daughters in Books and Films
Many people have written about Russ & Daughters. The famous writer Calvin Trillin wrote about the store in the 1970s. His articles appeared in New Yorker magazine.
In 2008, a documentary film called The Jews of New York came out. It showed three generations of the Russ & Daughters family. This included Anne Russ Federman and Hattie Russ Gold, who were two of Joel's daughters. The film told the story of the store from the early 1900s up to that time.
In 2013, a book about the store was published. It was called Russ & Daughters: Reflections and Recipes from the House That Herring Built. Joel Russ's grandson, Mark Russ Federman, wrote the book.
Russ & Daughters received a special honor in 2013. It won the Jewish Cultural Achievement Award. This was a big deal because it was the first restaurant to ever get this award.
In 2014, another documentary film premiered. It was called The Sturgeon Queens. This film featured Anne Russ Federman, who was 92, and Hattie Russ Gold, who was 100 years old. "The Sturgeon Queens" was a loving nickname Joel Russ had for his daughters.
Today, cousins Josh Russ Tupper and Niki Russ Federman run Russ & Daughters. They are the fourth generation of the Russ family to lead the business.
In 2015, the New York state Senate honored Russ & Daughters. They passed a resolution to celebrate the store's 100th anniversary.
Other Locations
Russ & Daughters has opened a few other locations over the years.
In May 2014, Josh Tupper and Niki Federman opened the Russ & Daughters Café. This restaurant is on Orchard Street.
Later in 2014, they announced a new cafe at the Jewish Museum. The Russ & Daughters restaurant at the Jewish Museum opened in February 2016, but it has since closed.
In early 2019, a very large location opened at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. This new spot is 18,000 square feet!
On July 18, 2023, Tupper and Federman opened another new location. This 4,500-square-foot store is near Hudson Yards.
See also
- List of Ashkenazi Jewish restaurants