In early September we reported that Noah’s Ark Deli had closed for the Jewish holidays and might not reopen. Now an eviction notice has gone up outside the storefront at 399 Grand St.
The deli has operated from the space since 2003 and was the only full-service kosher restaurant remaining on the Lower East Side. Its landlord is the Seward Park Cooperative, which had struggled during the past few years to collect rent from the business. Just before Rosh Hashanah, we received a tip that staff had been told the restaurant would be closing indefinitely; they were advised to apply for unemployment insurance, our source indicated.
The owner of Noah’s Ark, Noam Sokolow, also operates restaurants in Teaneck, New Jersey. He had been attempting to sell the LES restaurant for some time. Out of deference to the Orthodox Jewish community, the co-op has tried to recruit another kosher restaurant to the space, but that’s been a difficult task.
Good riddance. Terrible food. Worse service. Filthy.
The problem, I think, is that too many LES kosher shops, including this boring restaurant where I once went for matzoh ball soup, make little attempt to attract non-orthodox customers. In effect, they have a monopoly on orthodox business and capitalize on that, financially shafting their orthodox customers while repelling nearly all other customers. Contrast this with ethnic restaurants/shops in the East Village, which attract a wide customer base. Kosher does not have to mean insular. Just look at Moishe’s Bakery on Second Ave., which is kosher and friendly, with smiles all around as well and pretty girls behind the counters. I hope an East Village type of shop, ethnic but open to all, replaces this uninviting and boring place.
The potato latkes are leaden, the matzoh balls mushy. Very bad food.