In Memory of Rolf

Today’s New York Daily News has the obituary for Hallo Berlin Cart owner Rolf Babiel:

BABIEL-Rolf, Founder of Hallo Berlin, age 57 died at Beth Israel Hospital in Manhattan, NY, on Wednesday, October 21, 2009. Rolf Babiel was born June 24, 1952 in Hoyerswerd, Germany. He went to school there & later worked as a machinist in the open pit at Knappenrode. At age 23, August of 1975 he moved from East to West Berlin. There he drove a milk truck at night. In 1981 he immigrated to the United States. He bought a push cart, called it “Hallo Berlin” & began to sell German Wurst.

He set up shop on 54th St. & 9th Ave., next to Lufthansa Headquarters. A few years later he opened his first restaurant in 1985. It was located on 53rd St., & 9th Ave. He then went on to open more restaurants. There is now a Hallo Berlin Express, Hallo Berlin Food & Beer Garden & Hallo Berlin North Tavern. He participated in the Annual 9th Ave. Food Festival. Rolf Babiel is survived by his wife Bernadette, his two sons Peter & Alex, his stepdaughter Cherie & two granddaughters Amerie & Arielle, his mother Rosemarie, his dearest friend Reiner, sister, brother, niece, nephews & other relatives & friends. He was preceded in death by his father Walter & sister Brigitee. Reposing at JOHN J. BARRETT & SON Funeral Home, 424 West 51st St., NY, NY 10019. Visiting Saturday, Oct. 24th & Sunday, Oct. 25th, 2009. Hrs 2-5 & 7-9pm.

There’s just one thing they left out. In 2005, Rolf was the winner of the very first Vendy Awards… and is also survived by countless admirers of his delicious food.

Posted: 8:52 am, October 24th, 2009 under Hallo Berlin.
5 Comments | RSS comments feed for this post

5 Comments

Mamacita
October 24th, 2009 at 2:09 pm

Rest in Peace Sausage King.
DocChuck09
October 25th, 2009 at 5:14 pm

RIP, buddy. My friends here in Columbia, Maryland, who often made trips to NYC to partake in those wonderful German-style Wursts.

You will be missed by a fellow American of German extraction.
Fred
October 25th, 2009 at 11:47 pm

Please compare DocChuck’s statement here with the one posted at http://midtownlunch.com/2009/10/23/at-lunch-now-hallo-berlin-cart-soldiers-on/#comments.
chinolam
October 26th, 2009 at 12:08 pm

Rolf made a great contribution to NY. I hope the sausages keep coming. My favorite midtown cart.
GOURMET’S SWAN SONG TO NY STREET FOOD | New York Street Food

November 17th, 2009 at 9:42 pm

[...] of Hallo Berlin passed away shortly after this article was published. Midtown Lunch had a nice tribute to Rolf. His brother Wolfgang took over the business, and Hallo Berlin Express, their third location, [...]