Ask any New Yorker for a bagel recommendation and Russ & Daughters is sure to be at the top of their list. The spot is so iconic its own TV show is currently in the works!
Jewish appetizing shop, Russ & Daughters, announced earlier last year that they will open their first West Side location in Hudson Yards, and now it is officially open. The more than century-old NYC institution signed their first lease on the LES back in 1914. Since then, the shop has moved locations (179 East Houston St.), opened a sit-down café on Orchard St. and a retail counter & bakery in Brooklyn.
“This newest Russ & Daughters will provide an immersive appetizing experience that celebrates our roots in the Lower East Side and the innovative spirit of New York,” said Niki Russ Federman, fourth-generation owner of Russ & Daughters along with cousin Josh Russ Tupper. “We’re still a family business that continues to serve four generations of New Yorkers and visitors.”
The 4,500-square-foot location has taken over the base of 50 Hudson Yards at 502 West 34th Street. Coming from architectural firm, Foster + Partners, it features a seat-yourself dining area, appetizing counter, private event space, and a caviar and champagne bar, according to the press release. Of course, they will still make their iconic bagels, and in a glass-encased kitchen so customers can watch all of the bagel magic behind the scenes.
Though an event space seems a little surprising, Federman told the New York Times that Russ & Daughters is “often asked to host events like bar mitzvahs,” and this new Hudson Yards location will be the solution for such requests. Plus, they’ll be able to offer delivery service to a broader area of Manhattan.
“We could not have envisioned a more perfect addition to NYC’s newest and most sought-after office building than the City’s quintessential purveyor of bagels and lox for more than 100 years,” said Andrew Cantor, Executive Vice President of Related Companies. “The commitment to quality and service that Niki and Josh bring to every aspect of Russ & Daughters ensures that whether our tenants are grabbing breakfast on their way to the office, or enjoying a celebratory toast with friends and family, they are going to have an exceptional experience.”
Russ & Daughters has carried on the “appetizing” food culture (mainly consisting of homemade salads, cream cheeses and smoked/cured salmon) that used to cover almost every NYC borough and neighborhood in the 60s. Now, it stands as one of NYC’s last remaining appetizing shops, preserving generations of history.
Find out more about the history of Russ & Daughters on their website here.
Where: 415 10th Avenue, New York
When: Now open