Contact: Colleen Roche/Jennifer Chait (212) 788-2958
Joining the Mayor at today's unveiling were City Council Speaker Peter Vallone, Brooklyn Borough President Howard Golden, bill sponsor Councilman Ken Fisher and members of the City Council.
"It is a pleasure to be here to name this special area of Brooklyn Harry Rosen Way - Cheesecake Corner after Harry Rosen - the founder of Junior's Restaurant," Mayor Giuliani said. "In New York City history, there are certain sounds, certain sights and certain tastes that define New York City. Junior's Cheesecake is certainly one of the tastes that makes the City what it is.
"In the 49 years since Junior's was opened, the restaurant has become a New York City landmark for great food and signature cheesecakes," the Mayor continued. "In honor of this legendary restaurant, this legendary cheesecake, and the legendary family that has made Junior's such a fundamental part of this City, it's my pleasure to take part in naming the corner of Flatbush and DeKalb Avenue Harry Rosen Way - Cheesecake Corner."
Born in 1904 on Manhattan's Lower East Side, Harry Rosen opened his own luncheonette business at 16 years old. He went on to expand his business to include several sandwich shops in Manhattan and a site in Brooklyn, which eventually became world famous under the name Junior's Restaurant.
During the stock market crash of 1929, Mr. Rosen was forced to sell the Manhattan locations and concentrate his energies on the Brooklyn site. In 1949, he decided to make his restaurant the home of the world's greatest cheesecake. In a short period of time, Junior's Restaurant became a regular tourist attraction and one of New York City's culinary favorites. Today, after sixty years at this location, Junior's remains as popular as ever.
In 1972, Harry Rosen retired and turned the business over to his sons Marvin and Walter. Harry Rosen passed away on October 10, 1996 and today, the business is administered by a third generation of Rosens, Alan and Kevin, Harry's grandsons.
Junior's Restaurant is currently celebrating the publication of Welcome to Junior's, a unique cookbook that chronicles the history of Brooklyn since Junior's opened in 1950.