I used to have a client who would call regularly and ask excitedly, “What’s new? What’s hot?” It was irritating – what’s wrong with the same old thing if it is good? I certainly produce new products, but as a manufacturer, just maintaining the quality of a product line is a full-time job. Often I am dealing with the one last supplier in the United States of a part or raw material – when they are gone, my hand will be forced to buy an import, often of inferior quality. Admittedly, with the rate of technological change, it is questionable whether one even wants a product which will last.

Imagine guiding friends or family through New York City and nothing is familiar. Every retailer or restaurant is new, soon to be replaced by something newer. When asked about one of these merchants, you have to respond that you are not actually sure who they are and you have never been inside. But no worry, because they will be replaced soon by something newer.

I am not a luddite at all – I love new technology and am certainly not averse to the new and improved. However, by and large, humans are creatures of habit, and the man or woman is rare who does not at least find some comfort from time to time in the old and reliable.

Certainly not every merchant of high quality and integrity is a legacy business. Many of the businesses I have sought out and featured in my writings are newer – places such as Cones or the Doughnut Plant come to mind. I have also found a handful of older mainstays, part of New York City’s disappearing act. We are in a climate where many legendary brands have degraded over time and are selling on name alone. New or old is never a guarantee of quality, in New York City or elsewhere.

Everything said, I cannot promise that a visit to the Broome Street Bar will be everything you want – much of your experience depends on your expectations. But, when you are lucky enough to find a legacy business that still has a decent reputation and pleasant ambiance, it is comforting to know that sometimes, old can be good too 🙂

About the bar: Bob & Kenn’s Broome Street Bar has been a SoHo fixture since 1972, when opened by brothers Bob and Kenn Reisdorff. The bar/restaurant is located in the heart of SoHo at the corner of Broome Street and West Broadway in a historic 1825 building. See more photos here.
The space has a checkered past – a house of prostitution in the 1940s, and a previous owner who murdered a customer having an affair with his girlfriend and, in turn, was murdered by the victim’s brother. Read about the bar’s history here.

I was in the south of France at the Nice airport at the car rental booth. The agent, knowing our travel plans (to northern Italy and back), asked with a concerned look if we wanted contents insurance (for theft of auto contents). When I asked why, he said, “You’re going to Italy, you know.” Aha – I see. We had not even left the airport, and national rivalry was in full swing.

Years later, on a subsequent trip with my family, we stopped to have lunch at an amazing spot right on the beach in Menton, southeastern France, near the Italian border. Many of our waiters were Italian.

Regular readers know I love France, however, I readily admit that the French can be a little particular – one must know how to act and how to handle them. This is why, when we asked to move two tables together, we asked rather timidly. We were surprised to hear the response No Problema.

I also noticed this phrase emblazoned across the front of a road map of Italy – apparently this was a virtual national motto. I am convinced that this was Italian national pride, with the added twist of posturing against the tourist experience with the persnickety French, where, for some visitors, everything seems to be a problem. I heard the refrain No Problema many times on that trip to Italy.

Last night, three of us decided to go for some quick pizza. However, our choice of where to go was constrained by one of our group, who had two dogs. So it was decided to give Ben’s Pizza a try – this place, much like Nathan’s of Coney Island, has a look and feel of a Klein bottle, with no identifiable inside or outside. Perfect for a motley crew with dogs in tow.

Now I had never eaten at Ben’s at this location – the place always frightened me. Let’s just say that cleanliness is not one of its hallmarks, and I always found the place extraordinarily unattractive and unappealing.
Our order for slices was a mess. One of our party was unfamiliar with the choices, many changes were made, misunderstandings clarified, etc. The situation was trying for anyone in retail, particularly in New York City, where customer volume is heavy and patience can wear thin.

However, this man (photo center) was unflustered by any of it and seemed to have the patience of a saint. Remarkable for a place in a touristy location like this. And at every juncture, whenever I apologized, I imagine you have guessed his response already: No problema!

Ben’s Pizza is located at 123 MacDougal Street on the corner of West 3rd Street and has been in business since 1966. There is a second location in SoHo at 177 Spring Street. The pizza itself? The reviews differ wildly. Our slices were better than expected.