As of now, The Carnegie Deli is set to close its doors for good on the last day of the year. But Sammy Musovic, who owns several successful restaurants, has offered $10 million to keep it open.
Sammy Musovic, an immigrant, got his start in the business 30 years ago washing dishes at the Carnegie Deli for just $3 an hour.
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According to the New York Post, Musovic has previously offered an infusion of $5 million to save the deli, but this was rejected by its owners the Levine family. Fans of Carnegie Deli pray that maybe now they will accept double that amount.
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Sammy Musovic told The New York Post’s Page Six, “It was an honor to wash dishes at the Carnegie Deli — it inspired me to stay in the food business, and now I own three restaurants. I believe closing it down would be a huge loss for New York — it would be the same as losing the Empire State Building. It is a landmark. Buying the Carnegie Deli would be a dream come true for me. I would be able to save all those jobs, and preserve New York history. This is the best deli in the world.”
But a spokesman for the Levine family told the paper that they have received no serious offer to buy from him and that there are no negotiations currently being undertaken with Mr. Musovic to sell him the Carnegie Deli.
Meanwhile, Jake Dell, the owner of the world famous Carnegie rival Katz’s Deli has spoken publicly about his regrets over the closing. In an open letter published in the New York Times earlier this week, Dell wrote, “The Carnegie Deli will shut its doors for the last time on December 31 and we New Yorkers have already started mourning.”
Dell explained that while the two delis have been rivals over the years, it has been more like a loving siblings rivalry than a bitter feud like the ones between major brands such as Coca Cola and Pepsi.
“The day that Carnegie shuts its doors will be one that New Yorkers and lovers of food history alike will never forget, ” wrote the owner of Katz’s Deli. “Fifty-fifth Street and Seventh Avenue will feel hollow as we wistfully watch yet another great legend fall by the wayside. But I will make a promise right now to deli lovers the world over: Katz’s is not going anywhere.”
The iconic deli was featured in the Woddy Allen movie “Broadway Danny Rose.” To show their appreciation the owners named a sandwich for Allen.
“Our famous Woody Allen sandwich is for the deli meat lover! This sandwich is loaded with both our famous pastrami and our famous house-cured and smoked corned beef, all cozied between two slices of the perfect rye bread and spicy brown mustard.”
The Carnegie Deli got its name from its first restaurant which opened in 1937 and was adjacent to Carnegie Hall, located at 854 7th Avenue between 54th and 55th Streets in Midtown Manhattan.
The restaurant has been renowned for its humongous portions. The Carnegie Deli’s motto is: “If you can finish your meal, we’ve done something wrong.”
Not all of its locations are set to close, however. Two other Carnegie Delis will remain in New York and others around the country like the one on the Las Vegas Strip will remain. A branch located at the Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, opened November 22, 2009.
