Russ & Daughters

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Storefront on Houston Street
Storefront on Houston Street

Russ & Daughters is an appetizing store[1] opened in 1914. It is located at 179. E. Houston Street, on New York's Lower East Side.

[edit] History

  • Circa 1900 - The First Generation: Joel Russ, an immigrant from Eastern Europe, arrives on New York’s Lower East Side neighborhood. He starts out selling herrings from a pushcart.
  • 1914 - Joel Russ opens a small shop at 179 E. Houston St. called, “Russ’ Cut-Rate Appetizers.” In the following years he and his wife, Bella, have three children, all girls: Hattie, Ida and Anne.
  • 1940 - The Second Generation: Russ’ girls grew up working in the store. People loved seeing beautiful young women reaching their hands into the herring barrel. Eventually, Russ made them partners, and that’s when the store got its name, “Russ & Daughters.” All three Russ daughters met their husbands through the store. From the 50’s to the 70’s, Anne and her husband, Herb, Hattie and her husband, Murray, ran the shop.
  • 1978 - The Third Generation: After 10 years of practicing law, Mark Russ Federman returns to the family business. He has been running the operation since then alongside his wife, Maria.
  • 2000 - The Smithsonian Institution deems Russ & Daughters, “part of New York’s cultural heritage.”
  • 2002 - The Fourth Generation: Russ, Joshua Russ Tupper, leaves his career as a Chemical Engineer to continue the family legacy by taking his place in the store.
  • 2006 - Russ' Great Granddaughter returns! After growing up in the business, fourth generation Russ, Niki Russ Federman, takes her place in the lineage. Together with her cousin, Joshua Russ Tupper, she will ensure the continuity of the tradition.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Michael Pollak (27 June, 2004). "F.Y.I.". New York Times. 
  • A fourth-generation business, Russ & Daughters is a reminder of the people that, historically, make this city what it is. You know them, you trust them, and they promise to do right by you.” The New York Times Magazine

Coordinates: 40.722616° N 73.988296° W