Midtown Lunch

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.

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Hakata Ramen from Menchako Tei. Posted to the ML Flickr Photo Pool by Pabo76

This is starting to get ridiculous.  The branch of Menchanko Tei (on 55th btw. 5+6th) that was closed by a fire in December is still “closed for renovations”.  They had originally said they were going to reopen a week after the fire- which makes this lengthy delay even that much more puzzling.  No word on what the hold up is or how long it is going to be closed for.  In the meantime, you’ll have to make do with Men Kui Tei (on 56th btw. 5+6th), Sapporo (on 49th btw. 6+7th), or the other branch of Menchanko Tei (on 45th btw. Lex+3rd).  Or you can just sit at your desk, staring longingly at the photo above until you cry.

Related:
Fire Closes Menchanko Tei & Five Guys
Original Menchanko Tei Post (10/23/06)

Every since Cafe Zaiya (on 41st btw. Mad+5th) severed ties with them we’ve been getting emails complaining about the decline in the quality of food being served at Zest (on 47th btw. Lex+3rd).  So it should come as no big surprise that they closed at the beginning of the month (thanks to Lunch’er Gaji for the tip.) I’m sure the opening of Dainobu, on the same block, didn’t help matters either. The awning has been changed to read Amakusa (the name of the restaurant that used to occupy the upstairs space) but according to a sign on the door new management will be opening a new restaurant soon.  A photo of that is after jump…

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A few emails yesterday tipped me off to the closing of the two story Wendy’s on Third Ave. btw. 57+58th.  Not that sad… and in fact it could end up being great news, depending on what ends up moving in there.  Double decker Panda Express anybody!?! (I know, I’m a broken record and I apologize.)

Far sadder was the sight 13 blocks farther south, on 3rd Ave. btw. 43+44th.

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Photo courtesy of Adam Prato

Via Eater: “Late yesterday afternoon… black smoke was billowing from the vicinity of West 55th. Today we discover one of the sad victims of the fire is the sweet two story French restaurant La Bonne Soupe, which will reopen after extensive renovations.”  This comes exactly two months after a fire on that same block shuttered Five Guys and Menchanko Tei.  Could there be a 55th Street curse?

For those who didn’t mind seeing Garrett’s go away, because “Dale & Thomas is better”… well, not better enough to last through this economy. Commented by Blondie, and confirmed by this photo: the Dale & Thomas popcorneria on Broadway and 48th has also closed.  Basically, if you can’t make money selling your tailor-made-for-tourists popcorn in the heart of Times Square (home to a Hershey Store and M&M store that co-exist on the same block) I think you may have to reevaluate your business model.

Who knows how long ago this happened but I noticed today that Yorganic, the Froyo place in the Crystal Pavillion Food Court on 3rd Ave. btw. 49+50th, has closed. A combination of weather, the economy, and oversaturated market place could spell trouble for a lot of the Pinkberry knockoffs over the next few months. As long as they don’t touch my Red Mango on 8th Ave. and 45th I’ll be ok. (Yes, I like Red Mango. Sue me, it’s freakin’ good. I won’t go near Pinkberry though. Does that make up for it?)

So, this is not technically a “Midtown Lunch” but I’d feel bad if I let it go unreported. The Feedbag is reporting that the Hawaiian Tropic Zone (on 49th and 7th) is going to close soon, and has told all of their bikini clad waitresses to look for jobs elsewhere. This is terrible news for all the lawyers and bankers who somehow managed to get their companies to pay for business lunches at this place (until they were told they couldn’t.) You guys know you are out there… this is a sad for all of you.