By Gus Saltonstall
In the days following the death of Saul Zabar, the longtime leader of the famed Upper West Side food emporium, different forms of tributes have taken place across the neighborhood.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority also wanted to play its part in the remembrances, and on Friday, the state agency unveiled an official tribute poster to Saul within the 79th Street 1 train station.
“This tribute is the MTA’s way of honoring Saul, Zabar’s, and this special family that I’ve known my entire life, at the 79th Street station, where thousands of New Yorkers can be reminded every day of his impact,” said MTA Chair and Upper West Side native Janno Lieber. “The Upper West Side won’t be the same without Saul, who helped a lot of businesses, not just his own, including the MTA.”
The two posters of Saul will hang indefinitely, according to an MTA official, which means they will remain up at the West 79th Street 1 train station for at least 30 days, but in all likelihood, much longer.
“For generations, New Yorkers and visitors alike have made their way up here, often by subway or bus, to experience what my father built, a true Upper West Side institution,” said Zabar’s assistant vice president and Saul’s daughter Annie Zabar. “The store has always been a beacon for the neighborhood, and it’s such an incredible honor to see that spirit reflected back today.”
A ceremony took place Friday on the corner of West 80st Street and Broadway before the unveiling, which included multiple members of the Zabar’s family, several store employees, and multiple Upper West Side elected officials.
“I’ve never seen so many employees of an institution participating in a funeral service,” New York City Councilmember Gale Brewer said of the ceremony for Saul.
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Lovely tribute to a neighborhood icon!
Our elected leaders hard at work.
They certainly are proud of the poster.
I totally agree—most of our elected officials do nothing except show up for photo ops. Can anyone even remember the last time their pictures were actually about something meaningful?
As far as the legacy of Mr. Zabar is concerned, he is a true legend who contributed to our neighborhood way more than the pictures group
Valid point.
Commenting on Mr. Zabar would be touching a third rail.
I think I stayed away from that, criticism is of our elected officials.
( I did provide the link to the NY times crawfish article below)
Being engaged with the community, is in fact, the job. You
Correct.
I was noticing that they were hard at work and commenting at the pride they showed in the decal stuck to the wall.
Why live here if you despise everything about the UWS?
Where did you read about despising “everything about the UWS” ? The point is clear – our elected are useless. Please don’t twist it into something else.
It’s called criticism. It happens on the local and national level. Be thankful when it isn’t censored. It often is. Even here.
Are you proud to submit a snarky comment? Is that an achievement?
As a matter of fact yes.
I try to abide by:
“Disagreement is expected—even encouraged—but it must be expressed with care and consideration.”
Well, you certainly failed the latter part of the rule you purport to abide by.
I apologize.
Will make effort to improve,
Yes, that is the rule – and you do seem to abide by it. But why are ALL of your comments, on EVERY post on which you comment, snarky or otherwise insensitive? Do you revel in being a provocateur?
Which, with all respect, doesn’t look much like Mr. Zabar (z”l). But it was a nice thought.
Our “elected leaders” can walk and chew gum at the same
time I, for one, am grateful that they understand and appreciate the sentiments of (most) of our community.
That seems to be the only two things they actually do, in the literal sense
They fail at both.
You really ARE a curmudgeon, aren’t you?
Can I be both ?
( referring to your post above )
Curmudgeon and provocateur ?
Are they mutually exclusive ?
I think we all have a touch of both to some degree.
I would say that is half the UWS.
I love the neighborhood tribute to a man many of us knew, loved and trusted.
Is there a way we can get a poster for ourselves? Is the MTA making copies available to the public?
I’d love to know.
Very nice tribute
Are posters available to the public
How are the posters protected? I fear I know where this is going…
It looks like it can be peeled off the wall.
Brings back two great 80s memories:
New mark and Lewis commercial: “Saul Zabar is watching!”
And the song “I always feel like Saul Zabar’s watching me”
Agree it is a nice tribute to a community icon. And glad so many politicians are taking credit for it.
A very nice gesture by the MTA.
💖
For some reason, The Rag does not like when I point out how he tried to sell crawfish as lobster. It’s a matter of fact and the public record. I didn’t make it up. The censoring is a bit alarming.
Ooooooold news. The situation was reported on ad nauseam at the time (15 years ago?) and duly corrected by Zabars. Give it a rest already.
Duly? He was forced. Says a lot.
Link to NY times article.
WestSide Rag is mentioned.
https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/12/nyregion/sold-as-lobster-salad-but-a-key-ingredient-was-missing.html
I think I’ll name my next dog Zabster.
Thanks for the piece, may his memory be a blessing
Why not name the 79th Street station for Saul?
I’m a frequent visitor to the city. My itinerary is simple: Air Train to the LIRR to Penn Station to the 1 Train to 79th Street where I enjoy a great bagel stuffed with lox.