The legendary Carnegie Deli, one of the city’s most iconic delicatessen restaurants, is apparently returning to Midtown after a 10-year absence, with pastrami and corned beef fans cheering in anticipation.
The deli this week dropped a video on social media teasing a reopening with a brick-and-mortar location. In a video set to Kiss’ “New York Groove” workers are seen moving yellow signage panels into place at the storefront.
“The sign is up. The secret is out,” the post says. “Carnegie Deli is coming soon to Midtown Manhattan.”
Though an opening date hasn’t been announced, the sign indeed is up — along with a new red awning announcing the restaurant’s return, on Seventh Ave. at 54th St., just a block south of the epic eatery’s original location.
The legendary Carnegie Deli, one of the city’s most iconic delicatessen restaurants, is apparently returning to Midtown Manhattan on 7th Ave. between W. 53rd St. and W. 54th St. (Barry Williams/ New York Daily News)
It wasn’t immediately clear if the spot will be permanent or a pop-up. In 2018, the restaurant and Amazon teamed up to create a retro pop-up for the Original Prime hit series “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” complete with 1950s decor, menus and prices — including 99-cent pastrami sandwiches.
Carnegie Deli did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Among those salivating at the news was Questlove of The Roots, the house band for “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”
“I was gonna say: when I saw the name in uber eats I was thrown off like “NO WAY!!”” the drummer posted.
The Carnegie Deli is pictured in its original location in 1984. (Jack Smith / New York Daily News)
“This isn’t a reopening, it’s a resurrection…a true NYC Miracle!!!” posted another ravenous fan, unclelou59.
“I’m getting in the car and driving… from SC,” another hungry poster wrote.
After nearly 80 years in business, to the despair of deli gourmands, the beloved pastrami palace closed at the end of 2016. The Carnegie Deli was formerly located at 845 Seventh Ave., between 54th and 55th Sts. The new location was formerly home to the also iconic Stage Deli, which closed in 2012, and more recently the Roxy Delicatessen.
People line up outside the Carnegie Deli in Manhattan on its final day open on Friday, Dec. 30, 2016. (Howard Simmons / New York Daily News)
When it shut its doors, Carnegie Deli owner Marian Harper Levine, then 65, said she needed to step back from the demands of running the business. In addition, the deli had to pay out $2.6 million to settle a back-wages dispute, plus deal with a lengthy shutdown due to a probelmatic natural gas line.
Meanwhile, with daughter Sarri Harper joining her at the helm, the Carnegie Deli brand has continued on, with a location at Madison Square Garden and a seasonal pop-up at the US Open. The business also sells its beef, pastrami and cheesecake online, through FreshDirect and at select grocery stores.
A chef cuts a pastrami sandwich in half at the Carnegie Deli in 2011. (Bryan Smith for New York Daily News)
Founded in 1937 near the Theater District, the Carnegie Deli quickly became a mainstay of the city’s Jewish delicatessen culture. Its overstuffed sandwiches and massive cheesecake servings became legendary.
The restaurant was a favorite haunt of comedians, like Milton Berle, Henny Youngman and Jackie Mason and a place for up-and-coming comics to try out their jokes. It was a popular destination for scores of celebrities and entertainers, from Stevie Wonder and Robin Williams to Taylor Swift and J.Lo.