RKO Keith's Richmond Hill Theatre

The Italian restaurant on the other side of the theater from Jahn’s, an old-fashioned “red sauce” joint named Salerno, was closed down for a few weeks and seemed to be another neighborhood casualty. But it’s reopened under the name “Sorrento,” and is reportedly being operated by a younger relative of the original owner. I had heard mixed reports about the old place’s food, so I hope the new management is able to bring it back and make a go of it.

As for Jahn’s, I read in a local paper that parts of the old decor (no doubt including the nickelodeon) had been sold off. Perhaps, like those diners in Manhattan, it will be relocated to some place outsidethe city where it will be appreciated . By the way, there is a surviving Jahn’s on 37th Avenue in Jackson Heights:
http://queenscrap.blogspot.com/search?q=Jahn%27s

Will do PKoch

I’m sure all who posted here regarding Jahn’s had many memories of a once proud old fashioned ice cream parlor, but the one for me that stands out the most was that “player piano” nickelodeon. I was very fascinated by its charm and the music that it played while I dined there. I hope it was at least preserved and brought to a place where it can be appreciated and cared for.

I’m sad to hear about the closing of Jahn’s. Surprised, too, because I just stopped in there month or two earlier during a walk around the old neighborhood. The posters who mentioned that it had become a quiet, gloomy place were right, and the food was of the “greasy spoon” variety, though the original decor was still there and the old nickelodeon still worked. They still had the “Kitchen Sink” on the menu, too, although I’d imagine it wouldn’t have been the same, since in the old days I believe they made their own ice cream.

As for the RKO Keiths, I went in and saw the amazing interior frozen in its state of neglect. The rather shabby afternoon bingo crowd seemed out of place there. I wasn’t allowed to go upstairs, but I met the owner on the way out, and he said he’d be happy to show me around
f I came back at another time. He seemed quite pleased that people take an interest in the building’s beauty and history, but was definitely not pleased by the idea of it getting any kind of “landmark” status.

It seems to me there are a number of gems on that triangle: Jahn’s, Salerno’s, the florist with its old-fashioned neon sign, the theater, and the still-recognizable (from the outside) Triangle Hofbrau. I wonder if there would be more interest in preserving them if the neighborhood was a bit more “trendy” and undergoing gentrification. In another location, the Keiths would cry out for restoration as an art-house theater, but I guess it’s too early for that in Richmond Hill. It’s sad that a place like Jahn’s could hang on so long, only to go under now.

Nice story NewYorkDave, thanks for sharing.
Looking around NYC these days, its apparent that there is no longer any respect for places from the past. The closing of Jahn’s really his home with me on this point, instead of preserving the past, such as landmarking and preserving historic homes, businesses and the like,these links to the past are sadly being destroyed in the name of nothing but profit,and its evil twin,greed.
NewYorkDave mentioned Coney Island in his post,like Jahn’s its a very special place to me and many others,where I spent many times in my life enjoying its unique New York atmosphere, one which can never be replaced once its gone.

I was blown away to learn of Jahn’s closing. I ate lunch there on November 24th and saw no indications that it was to be their last day in business!

I was bringing my Mom to visit our old neighborhood, her first visit in 30-odd years. Although I had planned for us to eat lunch in Ridgewood, I happened to get off the expressway at the Hillside Ave. exit and as I made my way to Myrtle Ave., I passed by Jahn’s and was seized by the urge to stop there. It turned out to be a good decision; I’m glad I got to see it one last time before it faded into history. I’m pleased to report that the food and ice cream were very good even at the end.

I posted about this in a “Death of NYC Culture” thread on the Coney Island message board and a fellow who calls himself “Switchback” offered the following uncorroborated info:

“BTW, here is what I was told happened to Jahn’s by someone in Richmond Hill. When the original Jahn’s decided to close up business they instead leased the store to someone else who operated it as Jahn’s. A few years back the family that owned the building sold it to a different owner who was the one who decided to wait out the lease, auction off the Jahn’s artifacts ( which belonged to the building and not the person leasing ) and to lease the storefront to a corporate chain restaurant who could afford a larger lease. So for the first time in Richmond Hill’s history they will have a chain restaurant. In the case of Jahn’s the chain that has the lease is Montezuma’s.”

So there you have it. Pretty lame, if that’s how it really went down.

As a teenager, my old man worked as a skate guard at Hillside in the ‘50s, I’m sure he must have run the “Rink to the Sink” gamut a number of times! I’d ask him about it but I don’t want to bum him out by reminding him of things that are gone.

PKoch I believe it was called the Triangle Bowl,the RHHS web site as mentioned above, has a picture of it from the 50’s.

PKoch,
Re: “The Rink to the Sink”, thats a very clever way to describe the once thriving corner in Richmond Hill. There were so many great establishments there, the only one now left being Salerno’s restaurant.There are many interesting photos of this corner if you log on to Richmond Hill Historical Societies' website. Forgive me for going off topic, but does any one have recollections of the bowling alley across the street on Myrtle ave. from Triangle Hofbrau and when it closed? I waited for the bus in front of it many times in the 80’s but never went inside, perhaps because it was already closed.

I would have thought Jahn’s would have endured forever. Rime does march on.

My very fond memories of Jahn’s goes back to the ‘50s. I took the Myrtle Ave bus from Glendale to the end of the line opposite the Keith’s/Jahn’s regularly to begin my trek to the roller skating rink on Hillside Ave. Jahn’s was our watering hole for the return trip.

I used to order one of the least expensive, best bang for the buck faves; the Delaware Square. It was billed as a foot square and a mile high. As I recall, it was about a 6" square piece of chocolate cake, a few inches thick, topped with scoops of ice-cream and real whipped cream; and cost bout a half a buck. My recollection was that the kitchen sink cost between $3 to $5. Too much to cover myself or even to split with the one or two buddies I was with. It was served in a large baking pan. I don’t recall how many of us were needed to make it a ‘cost effective’ extravagance, or whether we were with chicks who picked up the tab, – yeah, right.

The nicolodian was a real hoot. I can still picture the green and white menus. How could I not still have at least one?

I recall a scam a buddy, Ed Sturmer, and I used to pull. Shame on us.

Shalom, ciao, and excelsior

LuisV my sentiments exactly.

LuisV
I had the Kitchen Sink once and was a memorable ice cream experience to say the least, especially the flavors I never had, $43 was on target for the times, but as times change,so do diets, which probably spelled the death knell for Jahn’s. Regarding the the Triangle Hofbrau, which is another dying establishment,the German restaurant (and deli), I believe it closed in the 80’s, making way for medical offices. The Keith’s theater next door is still intact,according to previous posts,they have bingo and flea markets there on weekends. One must wonder why upon selling the Jahn’s property,the Richmond Hill Historical society did not try to buy and/or save it.

Some fond memories of Jahn’s interior.
View link

I never had the Kitchen Sink at Jahn’s, LuisV, so I can’t comment.

I am greatly saddened, though not at all surprised, that Jahn’s is now closed. As I had posted previously, the last few times I was there, 2002 through 2006, it was darker and quieter in there than several funeral homes I have been in.