Mendy’s Beats Out Soup Nazi in Battle of the Seinfeld Spin Offs

Mendy's

I hate silly franchises just as much as the next guy (Bubba Gump anybody?), but this one is kind of sad when you think about. The original “Soup Nazi”, who had an incredibly popular soup business in Hell’s Kitchen immortalized by Seinfeld, can’t seem to find success in Midtown with his “Original Soup Man” franchises. As branches have spread across the country, the Midtown locations seem all destined to close. The one on 48th btw. 5+6th is the latest to go, and will be replaced (ironically) by Mendy’s.

I’ve always wondered about the connection between Mendy’s, the Kosher deli with 6 locations in NYC, and the Mendy’s from Seinfeld- which was a fancy sit down restaurant. Not sure how long Mendy’s has been around, but they seem eager to confuse tourists into thinking it’s the same place. From their website: “You can also try our Famous Split Pea Soup, featured on ‘Seinfeld’.” Clearly having your soup featured on Seinfeld is not something you want to bank your business on…

No word on whether the Mendy’s in the Rock Center Concourse is moving to this location, or if they’ll just have two locations in the same building.
The Mendy’s that is currently down in the Rock Center Concourse will be moving into this space sometime in July or August.

13 Comments

  • I have to respectfully disagree with you Zach. Soup Man locations closing is not sad, but makes total sense – have you ever tasted the crap they pass off as soup? I’ve actually never tried Mendy’s so I can’t say whether they are any better, but I loved the original Soup Kitchen Intl in Hell’s Kitchen – the Soup Man is a pale, vastly inferior, overpriced and very silly franchise.

  • @win – you are totally right… I guess the sadness I felt is more that they took this amazing Midtown Lunch’ish soup place in HK, and turned it into a craptaculous chain that can’t even operate in the neighborhood where it was launched.

    I’ve actually never eaten at the Soup Man franchise…

  • Has anyone tried the Soup Man’s soft serve? I have one near my apartment and occassionally yearn for a soft serve cone above Mister Softee quality. However, it just seems so odd coming out of a soup place I’ve never done it.

  • I’m pretty sure the actual Soup Nazi (Al Yeganeh) sold his stake in the Soup Man franchise a couple of years ago, so don’t cry for him, Argentina.

  • It’s the same place as on Seinfeld. You never heard of the fact that they use sets to produce TV shows. The Seinfeld set designers created a fake place using the name of Mendy’s. Just like the fact that they use the exterior of Tom’s in Morningside Heights to claim thats its the exterior of a fake restaurant, Monk’s.

  • Where is the original soup man place?

  • Haha. Soup Man is eh. I been to a chain, their soup is good but totally too pricey and not really worth it. Bubba Gump’s has alright shrimp but nothign more than a tourist atrtaction.

    They might as well open a Monk’s and the Chinese Restaurant. Cartwright!!! ;-P

  • Bubba Gump does have good snacks, solid key lime pie… and the servers work hard to make their tables happy. I have never had a bad experience at the TS location. It’s not a food destination, but it is fun.

  • The Soup Man places in midtown will continue to die for two reasons:

    1. Midtowners remember the glory that was the soup man. The chain shops are such a pale shadow of the original that it’s pathetic. The fact that the call it ‘Original ‘Soup Man’ is just an extra kick in the ass to those of us who miss the real ‘original.’

    2. Midtown is a very, very competitive soup market, unlike most mall locations. The chain soup man shops suck. The soup sucks, the sandwiches suck. And the one near Rock Center was always messing up the takeout orders.

    I didn’t even know the soup man places were closing. No one notices, no one goes there, no one cares. And I eat soup almost every damn day. For me it’s “What do I get with my soup today?” and I stopped getting this slop long ago.

    Enjoy your cash , Al. Your legacy sure sucks. Thanks for the bags of industrial ‘soup’ which are ‘cooked’ deep in New Jersey and shipped out to malls everywhere.

    PS I downloaded and made the ‘Soup Man Chicken Chili’ recipe floating around the web. It came out very good and very close to the original, which was my favorite Soup Man flavor. A few others are out there, too. Do that if you miss the soup man, and skip the chain.

  • I was a loyal patron to Soup Kitchen Int’l for many years and was sad when it closed. My sadness deepened the first and only time I went to Original Soup Man. The chicken chili was mediocre at best. it tasted bland but salty, like a can of Progresso soup.

  • Sean,you are almost right and more to be in shock.my wife just find this and sent it…

    Yahoo! 360° News | Beta Feedback Start your own Yahoo! 360° page Home|My Page|My Blog|My Friends|Mailbox|Invite|Search|Settings SOUP MAN , AL Yeganeh Top Page | Blog | Friends
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    SOUP MAN , AL Yeganeh is not connected to you in Yahoo! 360°.

    Ignore this person (What’s this?) Report for abuse View page without theme Last updated Tue Nov 04, 2008

    Member since October 2008

    Total Page Views
    500

    MY BLOGROLL
    AL YEGANEH 1 – 5 of 5 First | | Last SOUP MAN,AL Yeganeh’s Blog Full Post View | List View
    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………
    The Original soup store on 55th st.,near 8 avenue,manhattan,new york city for LEASE or RENT.

    This soup store (soup kitchen int,l) is the same store,jerry seifeld took advantage of……..located on west 55th street, near 8 avenue(259-a W, 55th ST.) Manhattan, New York city.

    Store has been closed right after I sold the North America right to this company who picked the name “ORIGINAL SOUP MAN” to operate under…………. It is available for LEASE or RENT now.

    10 years+8 months more lease left, till December 2019.

    Veryyyyy Low rent.

    Located on Ground floor, Size: 9 x 21 SF ……

    Basement floor: 9×40 SF….Fixtures, including, vent, 4 walking coolers & freezer .sink, restroom,

    For detail, email: yeganeh1@aol.com .. AL YEGANEH, the real SOUP MAN

    Wednesday April 29, 2009 – 02:47pm (PDT) Permanent Link | 0 Comments

    what about this?
    NOW I CAN SAY: Life imitating ART imitating ART imitating life..THIS IS THE LINE KRAMER SAID TO FRED KAPLAN FROM BOSON GLOBE, Boston Globe, by Fred Kaplan 02/12/96

    Friday April 17, 2009 – 08:18pm (PDT) Permanent Link | 0 Comments

    FROM real SOUP MAN,AL YEGANEH
    WARNING: Do Not be MISLED by what you see or hear or read about me.

    This is AL YEGANEH, THE REAL SOUP MAN, “NOT ORIGINAL SOUP MAN” Since original soup man is just the name, this company picked to operate under 5 years ago.

    There (3) things I have never done in my life:

    1…. I have never made or authorized anyone/operation any soup, containing any kind of NOODLE or pasta product to carry or sold under my name.

    2…. I have never named or approved or authorized anyone/operation to operate any kind of CHARITY FOUNDATION under my name” AL YEGANEH” .

    3….I Have never approved, authorized anyone/operation any kind of MERCHANDISING (T-shirt, mug, etc,,,,,) to carry or sell or give away.

    SO……IF YOU SEE:

    1….Any soup containing any NOODLE or pasta products with my name or photo on, it is NOT mine.

    2….Any CHARITY FOUNDATION operating under my name “AL YEGANEH”, it is NOT mine.

    3…..Any kind of MERCHANDISING with my name and photo on, is COUNTERFEIT.

    AL YEGANEH, THE REAL SOUP MAN. WHO USE TO OPERATE THE SOUP SHOP ON 55TH STREET & 8 AVE. MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY.

    Friday April 17, 2009 – 03:15pm (PDT) Permanent Link | 0 Comments

    THE ONLY PRODUCTS I EVER MADE AND AUTHORIZED TO BE SOLD.
    THESE 48 SOUPS ARE THE ONLY PRODUCTS, I EVER MADE AND AUTHORIZED , THE COMPANY WHO PICKED THE NAME “ORIGINAL SOUP MAN” TO OPERATE UNDER.

    . . ……………………………………………… THE REAL SOUP MAN, AL YEGANEH

    AS YOU SEE BELOW:

    I NEVER, EVER MADE ANY SOUP THAT CONTAINS ANY NOODLE OR PASTA PRODUCTS.

    IF YOU SEE ANY OF MY SOUPS CONTAINS ANY KIND OF NOODL OR PASTA, IT IS NOT MINE.

    *Chicken vegetable, garden vegetable, tomato & zucchini, tomato & basil

    Tomato & mussel, tomato & wild rice, broccoli & cheese, jambalaya,

    Italian wedding, mulligatawny, so many bean, Eggplant parmesan

    Minestrone, cream of asparagus, butternut squash (hot).Split pea w/ham

    Lentil, white bean w/ham & bacon.

    * Chili: CHICKEN, beef, turkey, 5 bean.

    * Goulash: beef, veal.

    * Bisque: lobster, crab, shrimp, seafood.

    * Chowder: corn, chicken & corn, Manhattan clam, New England clam, seafood.

    * Gumbo: chicken, shrimp, turkey, sausage, seafood.

    * Barley: chicken, beef, mushroom.

    *chilled soups: tomato & corn, vichyssoise, borscht, butternut squash, fruit cornucopia. Gazpacho, cucumber

    Friday January 30, 2009 – 10:01am (PST) Permanent Link | 0 Comments

    Entry for November 04, 2008

    AL YEGANEH , SOUP MAN , NEW YORK,USA yeganeh1@aol.com

    NOTICE: TO MEDIA Who have misinformed public for last 4 years while I have been away from United States.

    In case you did not take a minute to call 212 757-7730,my closed store on 55th st. & 8 ave. Manhattan New York or have not checked my website ( http://www.therealsoupman.com ), I have created this blog for you to give the public, accurate, fair and balanced information to prevent any disasters.

    SINCE I don’t have AND never had any PR , spoke person and manager, I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO SPEAK FOR ME.

    If you visited my website or called my store’s voice mail, it says: I do not live in United States any longer (since March, 2005) and have not resided there for the last 4 years.

    And: I only sold the North America right to this company who PICKED the name “original soup man” to operate under.

    And: any inquiry regarding North America right including franchises, contact (email) THEM at: http://www.originalsoupman.com

    And: For rest of the world franchise right,

    Contact ME: yeganeh1@aol.com . AL YEGANEH, SOUP MAN

    Tuesday November 4, 2008 – 04:20pm (PST) Permanent Link | 0 Comments
    Add SOUP MAN,AL Yeganeh’s Blog to your personalized My Yahoo! page:

    About My Yahoo! & RSS 1 – 5 of 5 First | | Last

  • The frozen yogurt there is vile. Avoid at all costs.

  • Soup and fruit for 10$…what a load of crap….rather go to hale and hearty and thats pretty crapppy too.

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