2nd Avenue Deli Movin’ On Up

Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
Some were heartbroken while others felt betrayed, but now, fans of the 2nd Avenue Deli can rejoice: The legendary restaurant is reopening its doors Monday, albeit in a new location.
The eatery has moved uptown to a spot on East 33rd Street, between Lexington and Third Avenues, where it will be run by Jeremy Lebewohl, nephew of founder Abe Lebewohl.
The kosher deli — which is famous for its gargantuan corned beef and pastrami sandwiches, among other traditional Jewish dishes — opened its doors in Manhattan’s East Village in 1954. It was forced to close in 2006, due to a rent increase and a dispute with the building’s landlord. The reopening will be celebrated with a ceremonial salami cutting.
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news. All donations are still being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000 until April 24.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.

