Danger Signs

For the Sake of Yonah Schimmel, Let’s Make Knishes the New Cupcake

Why yes, that is Jerry Stiller ordering himself some knishes.
Why yes, that is Jerry Stiller ordering himself some knishes. Photo: Sidewalks of New York

Yonah Schimmel Knishery has weathered many changes in its 101-year life span — the gentrification of the nineties, the carb-phobia of aughts — yet the massive renovation of East Houston Street is really squeezing the knishery, writes the Lo-Down. You see, up until construction made it impossible, far-flung Yonah customers would drop by from Brooklyn, the Bronx, or uptown and park illegally for a few moments in front of the knishery while picking up large orders.

Yet now co-owner Ellen Anistratov is saying no place to stop means she’s losing some customers, and she can’t afford to pay employees. Since Yonah relies on these high-volume sales, here’s a thought: Let’s declare knishes the new cupcake and have everyone order them for birthdays and office parties. We know Jerry Stiller and Woody Allen would approve.

101-Year Old Yonah Schimmel Endangered by East Houston Reconstruction [Lo-Down]

For the Sake of Yonah Schimmel, Let’s Make Knishes the New Cupcake