Pastrami lovers rejoice. The Carnegie Deli is back open after a ten-month hiatus. As Manhattan reporter Michael Scotto tells us, it's one of the few Jewish delis still left in the city.
For the first time in nearly a year, the Carnegie Deli swung open its doors to customers.
The legendary eatery was forced to close last April when Con Edison discovered an illegal gas hookup in the building's basement.
Owner Marian Harper was relieved Tuesday those problems were finally behind her and that her business was back to serving regulars.
"I'm so head over heels ecstatic, euphoric, so thrilled to be open today," Harper said.
All morning, the place was buzzing — the majority of the restaurant's 50 employees back at work, and long-time customers sitting at their tables, ready for those corned beef and pastrami sandwiches stacked sky high.
The regulars, sad the place had been closed for so long, said they never worried it would go out of business.
"I know the people involved," said Chaim Katzap."They wouldn't let it not reopen."
First opened in 1937, the Carnegie Deli was purchased by Harper's father in 1976.
It's iconic facade has been at the center of Woody Allen movies.
It's interior is a who's who of New York celebrities.
It's a throwback to an era when old-world delis were everywhere.
Now, Carnegie — though not kosher — is one of the few Jewish-style delis left.
Other mainstays, like The Stage Deli, a one-time rival, are just memories.
"The fact is that my father had the smarts to buy the building," Harper said. "So, that's why we're still here today."
And that has made it a destination — especially for tourists.
This couple, visiting from Georgia, rushed in just hours after their plane had landed.
"We dropped our luggage at the Algonquin and we made it here and we're thrilled to be here," said Cindy Crabtree.
To celebrate the fact that they are now back to serving their famous pastrami, the owners say they are planning a big reopening ceremony next week.