Reuben Restaurant
Encyclopedia
Reuben's Restaurant and Delicatessen was a landmark restaurant and deli in New York City.
Arnold Reuben, a German immigrant, first opened the restaurant in 1908 at 802 Park Avenue
. In 1916 it moved to Broadway
and 73rd Street, and two years later it moved again, this time to 622 Madison Avenue. Three decades after it first opened its doors, Reuben's Restaurant
and Delicatessen
had a formal opening at 6 East 58th Street with Mayor Fiorello La Guardia in attendance (March 28, 1935, New York Times). It stayed at this location for three more decades until it was sold in the mid 1960s, afterwards moving to a location at 38th Street and Madison Avenue.
Arnold Reuben was interviewed about his restaurant by the Federal Writers' Project
in 1938. Marian Burros remembered the restaurant's appearance in a January 11, 1986 New York Times column: "Italian marble, gold-leaf ceiling, lots of walnut paneling and dark red leather seats—to a small-town girl it was the quintessential New York restaurant." The restaurant's menu included sandwiches named for celebrities; Dean Martin
and Frank Sinatra
both had sandwiches named for them.
Reuben's restaurant is one of several restaurants and chefs that claim to have originated the Reuben sandwich
. According to its version, in 1914 an actress filming with Charlie Chaplin
requested the combination. There is disagreement whether that recipe was the same as what became to be known as the Reuben sandwich. Another version is that the sandwich was named after Arnold Reuben for his charitable work and donations, though the actual sandwich was created by William Hamerly.
The restaurant also played a small part in the 1919 Black Sox scandal
in which the Chicago White Sox
conspired to "throw" the World Series
. Arnold Rothstein
and Abe "The Little Champ" Attell met together in a private room inside Reuben's in an initial attempt by Attell to sell the idea to Rothstein, the most powerful sports gambler of the period.
Arnold Reuben's son, Arnold Reuben Jr., worked in the restaurant with his father until it closed in the mid-1960s when Reuben sold the restaurant to Harry L. Gilman. Arnold Reuben retired to Palm Beach
, where he died on December 31, 1970 at the age of 87.
The deli at 244 Madison Avenue remained until late 2001 when the restaurant was forced to close due health infractions.
Arnold Reuben, a German immigrant, first opened the restaurant in 1908 at 802 Park Avenue
Park Avenue (Manhattan)
Park Avenue is a wide boulevard that carries north and southbound traffic in New York City borough of Manhattan. Through most of its length, it runs parallel to Madison Avenue to the west and Lexington Avenue to the east....
. In 1916 it moved to Broadway
Broadway (New York City)
Broadway is a prominent avenue in New York City, United States, which runs through the full length of the borough of Manhattan and continues northward through the Bronx borough before terminating in Westchester County, New York. It is the oldest north–south main thoroughfare in the city, dating to...
and 73rd Street, and two years later it moved again, this time to 622 Madison Avenue. Three decades after it first opened its doors, Reuben's Restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
and Delicatessen
Delicatessen
Delicatessen is a term meaning "delicacies" or "fine foods". The word entered English via German,with the old German spelling , plural of Delikatesse "delicacy", ultimately from Latin delicatus....
had a formal opening at 6 East 58th Street with Mayor Fiorello La Guardia in attendance (March 28, 1935, New York Times). It stayed at this location for three more decades until it was sold in the mid 1960s, afterwards moving to a location at 38th Street and Madison Avenue.
Arnold Reuben was interviewed about his restaurant by the Federal Writers' Project
Federal Writers' Project
The Federal Writers' Project was a United States federal government project to fund written work and support writers during the Great Depression. It was part of the Works Progress Administration, a New Deal program...
in 1938. Marian Burros remembered the restaurant's appearance in a January 11, 1986 New York Times column: "Italian marble, gold-leaf ceiling, lots of walnut paneling and dark red leather seats—to a small-town girl it was the quintessential New York restaurant." The restaurant's menu included sandwiches named for celebrities; Dean Martin
Dean Martin
Dean Martin was an American singer, film actor, television star and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?"...
and Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
both had sandwiches named for them.
Reuben's restaurant is one of several restaurants and chefs that claim to have originated the Reuben sandwich
Reuben sandwich
The Reuben sandwich is a hot sandwich of layered meat, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese, with a dressing. These are grilled between slices of rye bread. The meat is either corned beef or pastrami, and the dressing is either Russian or Thousand Island dressing...
. According to its version, in 1914 an actress filming with Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
requested the combination. There is disagreement whether that recipe was the same as what became to be known as the Reuben sandwich. Another version is that the sandwich was named after Arnold Reuben for his charitable work and donations, though the actual sandwich was created by William Hamerly.
The restaurant also played a small part in the 1919 Black Sox scandal
Black Sox Scandal
The Black Sox Scandal took place around and during the play of the American baseball 1919 World Series. Eight members of the Chicago White Sox were banned for life from baseball for intentionally losing games, which allowed the Cincinnati Reds to win the World Series...
in which the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
conspired to "throw" the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
. Arnold Rothstein
Arnold Rothstein
Arnold Rothstein , nicknamed "The Brain", was a New York businessman and gambler who became a famous kingpin of the Jewish mafia. Rothstein was also widely reputed to have been behind baseball's Black Sox Scandal, in which the 1919 World Series was fixed...
and Abe "The Little Champ" Attell met together in a private room inside Reuben's in an initial attempt by Attell to sell the idea to Rothstein, the most powerful sports gambler of the period.
Arnold Reuben's son, Arnold Reuben Jr., worked in the restaurant with his father until it closed in the mid-1960s when Reuben sold the restaurant to Harry L. Gilman. Arnold Reuben retired to Palm Beach
Palm Beach, Florida
The Town of Palm Beach is an incorporated town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The Intracoastal Waterway separates it from the neighboring cities of West Palm Beach and Lake Worth...
, where he died on December 31, 1970 at the age of 87.
The deli at 244 Madison Avenue remained until late 2001 when the restaurant was forced to close due health infractions.