Discovering Vintage New York: A Guide To The City's Timeless Shops, Bars, Delis & More

by Mitch Broder

Overview

As Manhattan succumbs to the big chain stores and tourist traps that come with the modern age, it struggles to maintain its storied identity. Fortunately for locals and visitors alike, a number of classic restaurants, shops and other establishments still thrive today that evoke the unique charm of the city.

From The Four Seasons to Serendipity 3, from Katz's Deli to Café Carlyle, from the Oyster Bar to The Donut Pub, all the landmarks are here in the first and only book to collect all the best of Manhattan's timeless spots. Discovering Vintage New York is your guide to 50 profiled restaurants, shops, delis, nightspots, bars, and cafés that have lasted half a century or more. But they’re not merely old. Or historical. Or old and historical. These spots evoke a bygone metropolis. They are lost in time, yet compellingly timely. Whether they span decades or centuries, they are vibrant, quirky, and just plain fun to explore.

DiscoveringVintage New York takes you to a city of egg creams and knishes, of record stores and hat shops, of bohemian basements and candlelit clubs. Start reading, and start your discovering now!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780762784547
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	06/18/2013
Series:	Discovering Vintage
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 6.80(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Mitch Broder is a prize-winning journalist who covered New York City for 20 years for Gannett Newspapers, the nation’s largest newspaper chain. He has also written for the New York Times, the Daily News, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and many other papers.

Table of Contents

Introduction ix

Argosy Book Store 1

Aron Streit, Inc 5

Arthur's Tavern 9

Barbetta 13

Barney Greengrass 17

Big Nick's Burger Joint & Pizza Joint 21

Café Carlyle 25

Caffè Reggio 28

Carnegie Delicatessen 32

Chez Napoleon 37

De Robertis Pasticceria & Caffè 41

The Donut Pub 45

Duplex 49

Economy Candy 53

Eisenberg's Sandwich Shop 57

The Four Seasons 61

Gallagher's Steak House 65

Gem Spa 69

Glaser's Bake Shop 73

Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant 76

Heidelberg Restaurant 81

House of Oldies 85

Hungarian Pastry Shop 89

JJ Hat Center 93

John's of 12th Street 97

Katz's Delicatessen 100

Keens Steakhouse 105

La Bonbonniere 109

Lexington Candy Shop 113

Marchi's Restaurant 117

Marie's Crisis Café 121

McSorley's Old Ale House 124

Music Inn World Instruments 129

Native Leather 133

Nom Wah Tea Parlor 137

Old Town Bar 141

P.J. Clarke's 144

Papaya King 149

Poseidon Greek Bakery 153

Rolf's German Restaurant 157

Sammy's Roumanian Steak House 161

Sardi's 165

Serendipity 3 168

The Silversmith 173

Strand Book Store 176

Town Shop 181

'21' Club 185

Village Vanguard 189

Wo Hop Restaurant 193

Yonah Schimmel Knish Bakery 197

Appendix A Featured Places by Category 200

Appendix B Featured Places by Neighborhood 204

Appendix C Featured Places by Year of Origin 206

Photo Credits 208

Index 209

Editorial Reviews

Things change quickly in the city that never sleeps. A restaurant that was there a week ago might have vanished in the span of a New York minute. Mitch Broder is a journalist who is well aware of the transience of ‘vintage’ New York. Even the places that you assume will be around forever can one day disappear.

“But this fun little book celebrates what is still around. Broder visits the classic New York restaurants, shops and nightclubs. .. places that form the heart of the city. All of the spots profiled here have plenty of character. .. [and] Broder goes into depth. He tells the story of each establishment and offers portraits of the personalities involved.”

—June Sawyers, Chicago Tribune

 

 

“A nostalgia-lover’s guide, Discovering Vintage New York not only recalls some of the city’s favorite restaurants and other hangouts but also reveals the people behind them.”

—Sam Roberts, New York Times

“Mitch Broder respects his elders: venerable chop houses, hot dog stands with aged neon signs, timeworn diners, classic bookstores.”

—Chris Erikson, New York Post

 

 

“A Big Apple time machine.”

—Scott Rosenberg, amNewYork

 

 

“In an age when Times Square feels like Disney World and Manhattan is overrun by chain stores and franchise coffee houses, Broder takes readers to locales where the quirky charm of old New York still thrives.”

—Richard Liebson, Gannett Newspapers

 

 

“If you long for a time forgotten and a guide to the bygone metropolis, read Discovering Vintage York. Your next visit to the Big Apple could be an unforgettable one.”

—Cristine Struble, Examiner.com

 

 

“If you’re ever here, this is your guide.”

—Julie Banderas, Fox News

 

“Discovering Vintage New York is a must-have guide to what remains—before it vanishes.”

—Jeremiah Moss, Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York

 

“Mitch does a marvelous job as both a storyteller and historian. His descriptions are often hilarious, always delightful, and razor-sharp.”

—Joe Franklin, broadcasting legend, Bloomberg Radio

 

 

“It’s the ‘weird stores’ of New York that keep its heart in place, and Mitch has written a wonderful book about those weird stores, and how they keep the heart and soul of New York intact.”

—Adam Gopnik, author of Paris to the Moon

 

 

“Mitch Broder’s voice is impeccable, a master of economy. This book is a must-read for anyone who loves New York and a tale well-told.”

—Peter D. Kramer, LoHud.com

 

 

“Be sure to check out Mitch Broder’s Discovering Vintage New York.”

—Lara Elmayan, UntappedCities.com

 

 

“Pick up the book and get to as many of these New York gems as you can.”

—Mary Shustack, Wag Magazine

 

 

“I actually learned stuff that I didn’t know. .. about the history of the store before I got here. I got an education out of it.”

—Carol Walsh, owner of Native Leather, Greenwich Village

From the Publisher