DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — Junior’s is a beloved restaurant and bakery in New York City known for its iconic cheesecakes, and this year marks the eatery’s 75th anniversary.
Alan Rosen is the third-generation owner of Junior’s original location in downtown Brooklyn.
“So when I was four and five years old, if I wanted to see my dad, I had to come to Brooklyn. He worked seven days a week,” Rosen said. “I mean, this is where I literally grew up.”
After graduating college, Rosen came to work with his father, uncle and brother. After 75 years, the restaurant and bakery is still going strong, and while Junior’s has expanded over the years, Rosen says his family never forgets where they started.
“Our roots in Brooklyn will never go away because we were literally born here. This is where we started on Election Day, 1950, and so this is just part of our history,” he said.
“We’re just so appreciative of the fact that people still consider us iconic and part of the fabric of New York.”
Rosen says Junior’s is known for having the best cheesecakes in the city, and that the family recipe has not changed in its 75-year history.
The recipe includes cream cheese, fresh eggs, sugar, heavy cream and a touch of vanilla. The mix is then blended with a paddle attachment so it’s a little dense and baked in a water bath with sponge cake on the bottom.
“That’s what sort of put us on the map and probably maintained us for a large part of these 75 years,” Rosen said.
According to Rosen, his grandfather and father gave him pieces of advice that still stick with him to this day.
“As my grandfather said, ‘all you want, as you want it.’ He referred that to a bottomless cup of coffee, which was quite a novel idea back in the 50s. But if you compound that, my dad used to beat into my mead, you know, used to always say to me, ‘you’re only as good as your last meal,'” Rosen said.
“So all those tenets of our Brooklyn comfort food, with our real hospitality and friendliness, which we try and put forth every day, I think has really maintained the test of time here.”
Besides cheesecakes, Junior’s offers a full menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner.
For breakfast, customers can order French toast, an omelet or corned beef. For lunch and dinner, options include pastrami, brisket, Reuben sandwiches, burgers, barbeque ribs, chicken or salad.
While reflecting on Junior’s legacy, Rosen believes his father and grandfather would be proud of what’s been accomplished in the restaurant and bakery’s 75-year history so far.
“I wish my grandfather, but more importantly, I wish my father was still here to see 75 years,” Rosen said. “I think he’d be amazed that his legacy lives on today.”
As for what’s next, Rosen says they will stay true to Junior’s brand and continue serving its customers with the same passion and love that started the family business.
“I think the reason we’re still here after 75 years is because what’s old is new again, and we’ve stayed committed to what we’re doing,” he said.
“You know, we’re not following any late great trend. But we’re staying true, serving great comfort food, good portions, good value, and of course, great cheesecake.”