So, we learned last week that the next tenant to enjoy the landmarked, gaslight-era interior of the Gage & Tollner brownstone on Fulton Street in Brookly will be Arby's, the fast food chain. To prepare ourselves, let's look at how the two restaurants compare in particulars.
GAGE & TOLLNER: Founded in 1879 in Brooklyn. Closed 2004.
ARBY'S: Founded in 1964 in Ohio. Still going.
GAGE & TOLLNER: Founded by Charles M. Gage and Eugene Toller, who named the restaurant after themselves.
ARBY'S: Founded by Forrest and Leroy Raffel, owners of a restaurant equipment business, who got the name by sounding out the letters "R.B.," as in "Raffel Brothers."
GAGE & TOLLNER: The signature dishes included the oysters and lobster.
ARBY'S: The signature dishes include the Roast Beef Sandwich, Curly Fries and Horsey Sauce.
GAGE & TOLLNER: Patrons included Jimmy Durante, Mae West, Fanny Brice and Lillian Russell.
ARBY'S: Patrons include Tom Arnold, who also voices the talking oven mitt in the Arby's commercials.
GAGE & TOLLNER: There was only one.
ARBY'S: There are 3,688 restaurants in the United States and Canada.
GAGE & TOLLNER: Interior inspired by the Pullman dining cars of the Guilded Age.
ARBY'S: The Arby's sign was designed by Peskin Sign Co. to look like a hat.
GAGE & TOLLNER: Has 36 gas lamps.
ARBY'S: Has four kinds of "Iced Fruitea."
GAGE & TOLLNER: The restaurant was so renowned that it was a favorite of abolitionist preacher Henry Ward Beecher, who was, during his lifetime, arguably the most famous man in New York.
ARBY'S: Last week, Arby's made news when a van rammed through an restaurant wall in Michigan.
I think that's:
ReplyDelete"...Pullman dining cars..."
and
"...preacher Henry Ward Beecher..."
It was late when I wrote this. It often is.
ReplyDeleteI think I've only been to an Arby's once. The roast beef was grey. I was disappointed.
ReplyDelete