SHEEPSHEAD BAY'S ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS BLOG

Adelman’s Kosher Deli at 1906 Kings Highway closed its doors for good after 60 years of serving the Kings Highway neighborhood hot pastrami and fluffy matzoh balls.

The restaurant closed up at the start of Passover on March 25, as it does every year. But fans of the delicatessen were shocked when they tried returning after the holiday and found that the eatery never reopened.

As of yesterday, the restaurant remained closed and the windows were covered with paper. There was no sign indicating the closure or a goodbye message to customers. The business’ phone number has been disconnected, and owners could not be reached for comment.

According to a representative for the landlord, however, the neighborhood staple had fallen far behind on rent and was having money troubles. The landlord won an eviction against the business operator after failing to strike a deal.

The landlord, Waldorf Realty Co., said that there’s still a chance Adelman’s could reopen. The evicted owner was not the original owner of the restaurant, and the original owner may still have the right to seize the business and take over the lease.

“We’re waiting to see what the original owner of Adelman’s wants to do,” the representative said. “The Adelman’s name may be worth something to them. Maybe they’ll get partners or investors to come in and reopen it.”

Adelman’s has been in its current location for about half of its 60-year existence. To the right you can see a photo of the location taken by the Department of Finance in the 1980s.

Adelman’s was one of three remaining old-school kosher delicatessens in Southern Brooklyn. The last two are Jay & Lloyd’s Kosher Deli (2718 Avenue U) and Mill Basin Deli (5823 Avenue T).

This is a paid announcement from Bassett Caterers, Sheepshead Bay’s premier deli and caterer at 1404 Avenue X.

From now until February 3, Bassett Caterer is offering an extraordinary Playoff / Super Bowl Package on any Saturday or Sunday. For just $199 (+ tax), you can leave all the work of feeding up to 20 hungry football fans to us, and sit and enjoy the game! See the flier above for details!

Bassett Caterers, 1404 Avenue X, (718) 332-9000.

The above is a paid announcement by Bassett Caterers. Sheepshead Bites has not verified the claims made in this advertisement. If you own a business and would like to announce a special offer to tens of thousands of locals, e-mail us at advertising [at] sheepsheadbites [dot] com.

After approximately five months in business, Randazzo’s Sandwich Spot at 1520 Sheepshead Bay Road closed its doors following electrical wiring problems that carried a hefty price tag.

The business first closed temporarily more than two weeks ago, when a worker smelled smoke and found it coming from behind a wall. It was soon discovered that there were problems with the electrical wiring in the building. Those close to the business told Sheepshead Bites at the time that the closing was temporary, and that they were waiting for a contractor to make the necessary repairs.

But as time went by, our inbox filled up with notes from readers suggesting it was closed. Finally, on Monday, a For Rent sign appeared on the storefront. A representative of the business told Sheepshead Bites that, three contractors later, the repairs were too costly to do, despite that the past month saw booming sales and catering orders for the business.

No word yet on if the owners are prepping a new venture elsewhere, or even a rebirth of the Sandwich Spot.

THE BITE: As a father, one of the things I wasn’t prepared for was the pride I would feel in my children’s success. It’s a feeling only a parent can explain, as I sure as hell dismissed it before I had kids. Paulie Randazzo of the legendary Randazzo’s Clam Bar surely knows what I’m talking about.

About two weeks ago, Joey Randazzo, son of Paulie, opened Randazzo’s Sandwich Spot at 1520 Sheepshead Bay Road. It’s great to see a long time Sheepshead Bay family business branch out. Randazzo’s Sandwich Spot offers 26 “signature sandwiches” along with breakfast, “toss your own” salads and, of course, the option to create your own sandwiches from a pretty large selection of foodstuffs.

Personally, I like when chefs take the time to create their own dishes, so on my visits, I focused on the “signature sandwiches,” many of which are named after semi-local landmarks focusing more on Coney Island than our neighborhood. Unfortunately, none are called “The Sheepshead” or “The Emmons.”  I would have loved to see one sandwich created in homage of Lundy’s famous shore dinner, which consisted of, among other things, half a broiled lobster and half a broiled chicken. Or how about one that pays homage to Randazzo’s Clam Bar itself?

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THE BITE: There’s something wrong with my internal food calendar. I always seem to crave a food item when it’s not “in season.” I like pot roast in the heat of August. I often grill fish when it’s snowing outside. Maybe it’s my inner rebel gourmand; he likes to buck the system and today was no exception. Today, I was craving latkes.

For those of you who don’t know, a latke is a fried potato pancake. Traditionally, latkes are eaten during the feast of Hanukkah by the Jewish people. Me, I’m a goyim. So, I’m not tied to the tradition. Where I grew up we called these potato pancakes and weren’t taught about the holiday connection. I can eat potato pancakes without guilt any time of year and I suspect most of my Jewish friends do too. And so should you.

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Randazzo’s Sandwich Spot, the newest outpost from the family that brought us the legendary Randazzo’s Clam Bar, is setting up shop just a few blocks from the Emmons Avenue staple, at 1520 Sheepshead Bay Road.

An employee on site said the sandwich shop will open within a week or so, assuming there aren’t any permit problems with the city.

Randazzo’s Sandwich Spot will feature cold cut sandwiches, paninis, wraps and salads alongside a handful of hot subs and breakfast items. The location’s “signature sandwiches” heros are priced at $8.50.

Bay News was the first to report on the planned location back in January, saying it was slated to open then.

The location was previously occupied by Grill Master, which closed up shop in August 2011.

We’ve been wondering what would happen to the Atlantic Bagel Company at 2 Neptune Avenue ever since they closed down about a year ago. Honestly, we wondered how a bagel store – no matter how bad, if it was – could possibly close for lack of business in that location, considering that for many heading to the B/Q station from Manhattan Beach and the co-ops around West End Avenue it is the only place to get breakfast.

But, c’est la vie, it did indeed shutter.

And now, about a year later, a sign has gone up in the window indicating that it will once again be a bagel place… as well as pizzeria and deli (what, no fried chicken and ice cream?!).

And it’s expanding, too. The new location will also encompass the attached storefront of Four Seasons florist.

Welcome to the neighborhood. We look forward to trying the pizza bagels that you better produce.

Gravesend Neck Road Deli & Grocery will soon open on… lo and behold… Gravesend Neck Road.

The precise address is 1223 Gravesend Neck Road, at the corner of East 13th Street. The storefront was previously occupied by a home decoration business, which closed a few short months ago.

No word yet on when the deli will be open, but it looks like it should be soon.

Source: BSH Shooter/Flickr

There is going to be beef on this block. Roast beef. And maybe corned beef. Probably pastrami, too.

Randazzo’s Clam Bar (2023 Emmons Avenue) is opening up a sandwich shop on Sheepshead Bay Road between East 15th Street and East 16th Street, putting the shop, set to open up this month, within a five block radius of several key sandwich places in the area.

“People will be able to get a quick bite to eat [at our sandwich shop], but it’s still going to be high quality because the products are going to come from Randazzo’s,” said Joey Randazzo in the Courier’s Life Brooklyn Daily article.

The famous seafood restaurant is hoping to target the commuters along Sheepshead Bay Road.

“There’s a lot of people coming and going [along Sheepshead Bay Road],” said Randazzo. “We think it’s a great location.”

Sheepshead Bay already has Jimmy’s Famous Heroes, Bassett Deli & Caterers, Roll-N-Roaster and Brennan and Carr, but Randazzo sees it differently.

“There’s no place to get a good hero in Sheepshead Bay,” he said.

Even with Randazzo’s expansion and the owner’s fighting words, some in the community are willing to accept the challenge.

“As long as the quality remains the same, our customers will keep coming here,” said Frank D’Antonio, a manager of the Bassett Deli.

Tell us where you guys are planning to eat at. Let us know where you’re loyalty lies!

Photo by Vinnie Mazzone

Our friend Vinnie Mazzone from “Chicken Masters,” whose pleasant phone greeting in a thick Brooklyn accent — “Thank you for calling Chicken Masters, this is Vinnie speaking” — never fails to make me smile, sent us the above photo.

Major blast from the past, that.

Vinnie tells us that the “porcelain sign” (signs were made out of porcelain?)  from the old H&S Hebrew National Deli is still visible under the awning of Top Taco & Top China, 1654 Sheepshead Bay Road, and that, if memory serves, the owner’s name was Leo.

Funnily enough, Lost City’s Brooks of Sheffield — a guy who loves him some old-timey signage — actually featured Top Taco & Top China on his site this past July, calling it “A Good Sign” without noticing the “Even Better Sign” that was concealed beneath it.

I used to go to H&S quite a lot as a kid in the ’80s, always eating the hot dogs and French fries (or stuffed derma! …smothered in gravy…) because, as a pre-teen, I wasn’t yet introduced to the mysterious, succulent wonders of hot pastrami. Then, before you could say “chopped liver,” it was gone.

How many of us remember the old deli? There are days that I walk along Sheepshead Bay Road and I am still half expecting to see H&S, Wiesen’s, and the colossal roller palace but, alas, all those institutions have gone the way of similar legendary local establishments, such as The Flame (followed by the also defunct Jahn’s), Dubrow’s, Martin’s and Clement’s (followed by the also defunct New Clement’s).

One of the truisms about the internet that always gnawed at me is that the only information that can be found on the web has to have been put there by someone in the first place. When I Google “H&S Hebrew National Deli + Sheepshead Bay Road,” the only direct hit generated is from this post… written by me.

So please, tell me us your memories of the H&S Hebrew National Deli, of blessed memory. Write long stories in the comments about your favorite experiences there, who you remember behind the counter (Leo?), your favorite items on the menu and, if you have photos — please — send them to us at photos@sheepsheadbites.com. I’m trying to recapture my youth here.