Russ & Daughters
Encyclopedia
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
's Lower East Side
Lower East Side, Manhattan
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
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Since 1914, this landmark New York institution has been continuously owned and operated by four generations of the Russ family. In the same spot on East Houston Street, and run by the same family for nearly a century, Russ and Daughters continues to provide tastes, traditions and old-world class of a true New York experience. Purveyors of the highest quality smoked fish, caviar and specialty foods, Russ and Daughters is considered one of New York's premier appetizing shops.
History: From Pushcart to Posh
Joel Russ, an Eastern European immigrant who arrived in America in 1907, started the business from a pushcart to cater to the throngs of Jewish immigrants settling in New York's Lower East Side. He began by schlepping Polish Mushrooms on his shoulders to support his family, and save enough money to purchase a pushcart. In the true spirit that defines the early 20th Century immigrants, Joel Russ soon was able to buy a pushcart, and expanded his operation and sold pickled herring and Polish Mushrooms. Then in 1914, Joel Russ opened J Russ International Appetizers, a storefront around the corner from the current location, thus the beginning of what would become the landmark Russ and Daughters is today.In 1920, Joel Russ opened his store at the current location of 179 East Houston Street, after a few years of operating out of the original storefront around the corner. In 1933, he renamed the business "Russ and Daughters" after making his three daughters, Hattie, Ida and Anne, partners in the store. According to Hattie, they had all worked in the store "since they were 8 years old" on weekends. They would fish out the herring fillets from the pickle barrels and learn the importance of hard work and dedication. Once each one of them finished high school, they all worked full-time, and so it was only natural that they continue to work in the business that had provided for them since they were born.
Historically, businesses typically took on the name "and sons", but since Joel Russ only had daughters, the unique way in which this small family business began took on a whole new meaning. Moreover, Joel Russ never closed the store, working seven days a week. However, Joel Russ was not a 'feminist' ahead of his time. For him, getting his daughters into the business was not a matter of persuasion, but a matter of parnosa, or surviving to make a business. Vi nemptmen parnosa' was what Joel Russ famously used to say, meaning 'From where do we take our living.'
Further reading
- “A fourth-generation business, Russ & Daughters is a reminder of the people that, historically, make this city what it is. You know them, you trust them, and they promise to do right by you.” The New York Times Magazine
- http://www.russanddaughters.com
- http://blog.russanddaughters.com (Lox Populi blog)