 |
If you remember there used to be a Jahn’s on Gerritsen Avenue and Avenue U now Chinar.
Jahn’s ice cream shops once covered the NYC metropolitan area with a heady combination of lactose and sucrose. The first Jahn’s was opened way back in 1897 in Mott Haven, Bronx by John Jahn. His three children, Elsie, Frank and Howard, opened Jahn’s in Jamaica, Richmond Hill, and Flushing respectively.
Jahn’s is most celebrated for its Kitchen Sink sundae, which was large enough to serve six. There were also the Boilermaker, the Awful Awful, the Suicide Frappe, Screwball’s Delight, the Joe Sent Me,, and the Flaming Desire, five scoops of ice cream topped by a flaming sugar cube.
 |
The Jahn’s at Richmond Hill, on Hillside Avenue just north of Myrtle closed this Thanksgiving weekend . It joins other former Jahn’s branches at Mott Haven, Jamaica, Flushing, Marine Park, Bay Ridge, Sheepshead Bay, Fordham, Forest Hills, Great Neck, Rockville Centre, Eastchester, East Meadow, West Islip, Union Twp. and Fair Lawn, NJ, and Coral Gables and Sunny Isle, FL.
Tthe owner who said that after 18 years, they just couldn’t make it here anymore. The antique fixtures were purchased in bulk by someone who is restoring a period ice cream shop somewhere in the mid-west.
One Jahn’s location remains: 81-04 37th Avenue, Jackson Heights, Queens.
 |
No way. This is great. I miss Jahn’s. I didn’t even know it was still open anywere. Oh so many lost years I have to make up for. Jahn’s was a birthday ritual until they closed here in Marine Park.
Like or Dislike:
4 
0
That’s where you went after the school swim meets. After the movies (used to be right next door) and first dates; and just to hang out. Too bad, it was a great neighborhood place.
Like or Dislike:
4 
0
I guess for people who have only been in the beach for a short while think of china as once being jahn’s , to people like me it was always Ray and shy’s The Flame . Jahns was on Nostrand ave till it moved to Gerritsen Ave after carval closed .
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
I have never been to a Jahns, but if someone could take some pictures of this jahn – last ice cream eatery – and send them to me – i would be appreciating that much
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
I have nothing but great memories about the old Jahn’s Ice Cream Parlor on Church Avenue and Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. We would make a meal out of their Kitchen Sink….
We could come from Canarsie every Friday night just to hang out and eat ice cream…. GREAT MEMORIES
Like or Dislike:
4 
0
I spent many ‘date nights’ there Church & Flatbush .
I lived on Maple St. between Nostrand & New York Avenues .
Such fond memoris .
Steve Sullivan ,now in Fla. and retired .
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
I loved going to Jahn’s especially on your birthday. They would give you a free sundae. I used to go to Jahn’s on 86th St and Church Avenue (near Erasmus Hall High School) in Brooklyn and also Richmond Hill, Queens. It was the greatest ice cream parlor with the best selection of sundae’s around!!!
Like or Dislike:
3 
0
I have such fond memories of Jahn’s in Union NJ. That was the hangout for all of us. I wish all us 60′s and 70′s “kids” from Union could open a Jahn’s back in Union. The kids today need someplace like this… The Kitchen Sink was the best!!
Like or Dislike:
3 
0
The one I remember was located at the corner of 86th Street and 21st Avenue in Brooklyn. Worked there as counterman, busboy and waiter. Many great memories. The best part of Jahn’s other than the food and Ice Cream was the employees. When we placed the orders we had to scream them out in code – half on, purple up, black & white, split it straw and black “SINK IT” – which by the way was scoops of everything in the freezer, scoops of all of the toppings and three to four cans of whip cream. Topped with Sprinkles, cherries and four Melba cookies dipped in Orange Extract which was lit with a match before we brought it to the table.
Melted Cheddar Cheese Burger deluxes, with TAB soda. French Fries with cheese and Brown Gravy. Definitely brings back fond memories.
Like or Dislike:
5 
0
86th Street in Brooklyn…Where is their best waiter..Robert ???
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Grew up near Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx. Every once and a while a friend’s dad would take us all over to Fordham for an ice cream treat at Jahn’s. Those were the days!!
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
Jahns will be missed.
I will treasure the stories of my mother going to Jahn’s when she went to Richmond Hill HS in the 60′s.
I will treasure the stories I had in going there throughout my high school years in the 80′s.
And I will certainly treasure the honor of having my daughter’s first birthday party there in 2000.
Three Generations..Jahn’s you will be missed.
Like or Dislike:
3 
0
Growing up in the 60′s in Brooklyn, I remember going to the Jahn’s on Church Avenue (next door to the Bowling Alley). When my grandfather came to town, the family would go to to Jahn’s and get the kitchen sink. Also remember the Blue and Gold Dinner (breakfast) for Boy Scouts was held there. In my teen years, moved out to Long Island where we went to the Rockville Center and Levittown locations. Rockville Center location is now called the International Cafe and I believe is owned by the daughter of the last owner of Jahn’s for Rockville Center. Once spoke with her, she said she still had a few Kitchen sink bowls. Today she makes Gelatto….
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Growing up in Northern NJ, we used to go to the Jahn’s at the end of Route 4 in Fairlawn. It was our place to go for high school drama department cast parties, and always good for at least one Kitchen Sink. The main thing I remember from there (besides the great ice cream) was that all of the waiters and waitresses never wrote any orders down, and even when we switched seats around the table, or even changed tables to try and mess them up, they always managed to get our orders right to us. Hard to find places like that anymore.
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
I went to the one in Fair Lawn for cast parties too!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
At he one on 86th Street in Brooklyn, there was a waiter (Robert?) who could take an order for a large party without writing it down and it would all come out exactly as ordered. Quite a talent.
Thanks to Franco for the “insiders” information (see post above). Jahns was a great place. Sonya, if you ever read this, thanks for introducing me to Jahns.
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
I remember going on dates to Jahn’s in Queens off Jamaica Ave.then to the movie theater next door. Just recently my daughter told me that she and her fiance also when on a date there last year. Oh those kitchen sink. Wasn’t there a bird bath?
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
I remember going to Jahn’s on Nostrand Ave and Ave U in Bklyn for my free ice cream sundae on my birthday. I never really ate the “real” food there. That place was awesome….the Boiler Maker was my fav
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
There was Jahns on Nostrand and U or are you thinking of the one that was on Gerritsen Avenue and Avenue U?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Yes, there was a Jahn’s on Nostrand Ave. near Avenue Z…. There was another Jahn’s at Gerritsen and Nostrand (ner Ave. U corner) for several years… It opened in a site that had previouslty been The Flame Restaurant which literally had a flame coming out of a rooftop set-up. This Jahn’s did not have the ‘flavor’ of some of the other Jahn’s operations — the one that comes to mind first is the one at Church & Flatbush (but others swear by 86th Street). There was another great ice cream center nearby the Flatbush-Church operation – Fulton’s across from Loew’s Kings.
The Flame was a popular restaurant for a while, and, when it closed, its site was used by Jaohn’s, but I never found this one to be on a par with Hillside or any of the others… Still…. what great ice cream. The family that created that ice cream is still very much around though no longer in the business, to my knowledge.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
And who does not wish to pay for a hosting, is urgent here – the best free web hosting!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
“…Dedicated to Gerritsen Beach Offering Current News, Links & Reviews not Memories”. I must be on the wrong website. Is this http://www.gerritsenbeachmemories.com ? Who remembers taking a date to the Caton Inn? How many of you Gerritsen Beach and/or Marine Park readers, remember DeLeo’s?
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
I have such great memories of Jahns. How sad that they are disappearing. I used to go with my friends after roller skating at Levittown roller rink as it was right next door. Then I brought my children there in the 60′s. I knew they closed but thought Richmond Hill one would stay open until I could get back there as I went there with friend from Flushing. Don’t put things off I guess because now too is closed. Will make it a point to get to the Jackson Heights one before that closes too. End of a beaufiful era. I feel badly this generation won’t have a chance to experience the McArthur sundae or Tub o suds.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
I was sad to hear that most Jahns are closed. I used to go to one one in the FORDHAM area with my grandmother when she would pay her gas bill.What a great place and many memories for me and my family….oh that great sunday on a hot bronx day and of course a seltzer water….!!
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
There was Jahn’s in Sheephead Bay in Brooklyn but that took over when the one on the corner of 86th Street and 20th Avenue in Brooklyn closed for I remember some of the workers that were there went to work at the one in sheephead bay.
Before that it was a steak house the after the 86th Street jahn’s closed.The Waiter Robert was german a smart man and every christmas I would give him Italian Sea Food Salad.For my Father was the owner of Carolina Restaurant in Coney Island
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
@Neil Gargiulo,
what a shame…Carolina was da bom. It became such a shithouse after a while (it was sold right)? and then it finally closed, now its a disgusting chinese buffet for welfare recipients
Carolina was our favorite.. I didnt know your father owned Carolina and Gargiulo’s too !
we never liked gargiulos. way too much of a “sorpranos” vibe to it and the food was never as good as Carolina
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
There was a Counter Man Name John I use to call him Big John him and I were Big yankee fans . I wish I knew what ever happen to him.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Those birthdays …and ice cream treats to mend those raspy throats after a HS concert
was a trip to the East Meadow Jahns,….where all was well again after an awesome Royal banana
split, or a delectable Buster Brown !!!!—–oh yea!!
…. those days are gone, but will never be forgotten !
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I have a replica of Jahn’s Ice Cream shoppe on my train layout, purchased by one of my sons. It always creates an interesting conversation point for those visiting the Chase and Western Rail Way (i.e. my train room setup). It surely must have been a great place. I’d love to come in and pay with my credit card to see the reaction of the cashier!!!
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
I went to Richmond Hill H.S.. After school we would walk to Jahns for some hang out time and something tastey.Barry was a terrific waiter and the the place was spotless and beautiful. The oldtime soda fountain was a marvel of polished brass ,nickel and marble.Bunches of bananas were hung for use in making the best banana split in the world.I think “Papa Jahn” invented that famous ice cream delight.The old nickelodian worked just fine and I always liked the “reverse in”…ablack and white soda backwards,chocolate ice cream instead of vanilla.Vanilla soda rather than chocolate./…Its gone,. Im 73, IT was a icon,like youth gone and forever to be missed.
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
Wonder if Jaxson’s Ice Cream in Dania Beach is a relative. Looks just like the old Jahn’s of Fair Lawn and was told the name came from “Jack’s son”…Outrageous homemade ice cream!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Hi I went to Bronx Community College and then to Lehman College back in the seventies and we all stopped in about once a week at Jahn’s on Kingsbridge Road in Fordham for lunch and an ice cream treat. It used to be our regular spot to sit and talk about school, our boyfriends or boys that we would like to be our boyfriends or to moon over that cute young professor. Jahn’s was the best of the best as a hangout place second only to Arnolds on Happy Days. Come to think about it I believe that the executive producer Gary Marshall came from the Grand Concourse. I wonder if he ever went to Jahn’s when he was a teenager and Jahn’s was a prototype for Arnolds. Although I am not sure when Jahn’s actually opened up at that location. Which brings me to my reason for writing.Why not bring back Jahn’s. As far as I know there is nothing like it anymore anywhere. I believe it would be a success. The kids today don’t have anywhere to go and hang out with friends just fast food places like McDonald’s and the like.(Does anybody remember the sign in Jahn’s stating that “GOOD FOOD TAKES TIME TO PREPARE”) I am sure that they serve a purpose but they could never begin to fill the void left by Jahn’s and other places like it. It could not only serve as a teenage place but a family place, date place etc. I think we should start a bring Jahn’s movement and mabey some big mall or food company will look into the possability. It’s worth a shot. When I used to tell my kids about Jahn’s they thought it was something like Friendly’s but I told them that it was like that but so much more but they could not imagine it. I say let future generations not have to imagine but instead be able to sit down to a kitchen sink or a buster brown of their very own. What does everybody think about this? Coments please.
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
Maybe I served you some ice cream back then. I worked there for many summers as my father was the manager. I thought the road name was Kingsborough but you are right it was Kingsbridge Road, very close to Fordham. I worked there during school summers, probably from about 1972 to 1978.
Rich
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Robert – nicknamed “SHEK”. Yes a person of German ancestry. Heard through the grapevine he owns a German Restuarant someplace in Queens (not sure where or the name). Many many great memories from working at Jahn’s.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
I use to go with my family to the one in fairlawn nj. I remember the old time movie projector and the great lollipops at the counter the clear red, green, yellow,ones in a 5 pack shaped like a boot or something like that. I wonder if they one place left has them. It was great memories.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
I used to work at Jahns on Z and Nostrand in Sheepshead Bay. I still have a menu. Worked there around 69-70
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
There was one Jahn's left out of the list. It was in downtown Huntington, next door to The Shore theater. It nwas the site of my first paying job.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I went to Jahn’s in Queens on my 22nd birthday, November 15 1974. I remember I had the Free Birthday Sundae and my date had The Kitchen Sink, which was way-way-way too much for one person. We switched sundaes. He ate mine and we worked on The Sink together. i would love to go back, but, alas, I can only visit in my mind.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
The last time I went in Jahn’s-Richmond Hill was 1996. It had turned into a real sleazy dive. Only two people working the place. A filthy looking unshaven Russian guy working the grill while watching a grimy little b&w tv behind the counter, and a busted looking waitress. They had just done a half-assed remodel job removing most of the vintage tables and paneling, the place was already run-down looking again(minus the character). I never went back. I can’t believe the place held out almost another ten years before finally shutting. Poor management killed that place.
Another place in a slow downward spiral is the Homestead on Lefferts Blvd. That’s a real shame too.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
been going here since I was a little girl though out the 90′s. the last time was in 2007. great time. will never forget that old music box. had my name on the wall. such a real shame. another lost piece of history.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I use to hang out at the Jahn’s on Church and Flatbush on Friday nights after ice-skating in Prospect Park , in the mid – to late 1960′s. Does anyone have a picture at that location?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I have many fond memories of Jahn’s ice ceam parlor. I worked there as teen. I worked as a dishwasher, busboy and kitchen helper. I also remember very fondly working with the son of the owner or head manager. Mr Cavanagh, can you give me a heads up on the people that worked at the Kingsbridge parlor in the mid to late sixties.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
My dad was the manager there for many years until it closed.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
My dad was the manager for many years, probably starting in the 60′s. My oldest brother Allan worked there for many years and I did too.
Rich
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
i used to live at the jahn’s on hempstead turnpike, levittown, just west of the wantagh parkwy on the north side of ‘the pike’. . . after roller skating at the ‘levittown skating rink’ , it was a requirement to stop at jahn’s and cool down. it was almost criminal when they closed it. many happy memories . . loads of good food.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
My father was the manager of the Jahn’s in the Bronx, Kingsborough Road. I worked there for several summers as a busboy, dishwasher, behind the counter whatever he needed done. I can remember Frank Jahn coming to our house to visit and I can remember him and his wife visiting the store each week. Great memories. I used to walk around that area of the Bronx before the store would open just taking in all the sites, very interesting place. Worked with some great people over the years too at Jahn’s. I can remember making Kitchen Sinks along with all the other ice cream creations we had.
Richard Garnett
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
that building will be bought by some shady ethnic group that comes here off that useless dirtbag continent of asia for another fortune full of non taxed american money laundering,there is no business that an american could run successfully in that particular spot at this moment in time unfortunately,and the days of it being a possibility are long gone
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Remember this Brooklyn friends?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0