The Matchcover Storyteller

They call it, with good reason, “The World-Famous Carnegie Deli”, the best known of arguably the three best deli’s in New York City  —  Carnegie’s, Katz’s and 2nd Avenue.

“Delicatessen” is a restaurant category a collector could go pretty deep with; there are lots out there.  As far as Carnegie goes, I have this 20-strike front-strike, and I know of a 30-strike front-strike as well (and this should not be confused with a now also-closed Carnegie Deli in Beverly Hills, California!)

The Carnegie Delicatessen & Restaurant opened in 1937 on 7th Avenue in midtown Manhattan just a stone’s throw from – you guessed it – Carnegie Hall.   By 1937, the founding family was already into its third generation as Delicatessen operators.   Despite being relatively unknown for its first 50 years, it was the “go-to” place for stars and tourists up and down The Great White Way.

From 1976 into the 80’s, Leo Steiner and Milton Parker were the ones who ultimately guided the Carnegie into its unparalleled fame, unquestionably aided by its significant part in Woody Allen’s 1984 movie “Broadway Danny Rose”.  Lou’s face on this cover dates it at least post-1976, when he bought in.)

In the 2000’s, The Carnegie began having setbacks.   For one thing, it was expensive and New Yorkers in particular started looking for authenticity at lower prices,  There was an investigation into improper natural gas usage.  There was a messy divorce, but in the end, as it closed in 2016, The Carnegie Deli’s owner said she just wanted to end long hours and have a life,.

There’s still a branch of The Carnegie in Madison Square Garden, if you’re headed for a Knicks or Rangers game.  There were other branches, also now gone, but for us, a couple of matchcovers are our reminder of what was once 

“the most famous name in Deli”!