Story
As a young man Harry Russell Sr. moved from New York City to Roanoke, Virginia with his mother. While attending St. Andrews High School, now known as Roanoke Catholic School, he met his future wife Eileen Alouf. After working several odd jobs he landed a steady position with the Norfolk and Western Railroad as a fireman on a yard switcher. Eileen worked in the Alouf family owned grocery store at the corner of Williamson and Liberty Rd. in Roanoke.
In 1957 Harry married his high school sweetheart and after Eileen’s father, Fred Alouf retired, Harry quit his railroad job to join the family business at the “Stop and Shop” grocery. Soon Harry, a friend to everyone he knew, was being visited daily by many of his former N&W co-workers after the 3 o’clock whistle blew.
In May of 1959 the New Yorker was officially born. Rotisserie chickens were added which turned out to be a big hit, so a few tables and a small bar was added to accommodate the ever increasing amount of patrons. Harry brought a little of his heritage with him and incorporated authentic New York City style hot deli sandwiches to the menu. Eileen made the cheesecakes fresh daily from a recipe that her mother had been using for years to feed the family.
Quickly word spread about the New Yorker and their huge delicious sandwiches and subs being sold at affordable prices. Stemming from his days at N&W this concept was very important to Harry. He wanted to deliver delicious food to the working man as well as those of greater means.
Many of the products were shipped into Roanoke directly from the Big Apple itself. The rye bread and rolls were sent in by greyhound bus from New York & Baltimore and were picked up weekly from the bus station downtown. The smoked Nova Scotia lox for the classic Lox and Bagel is still flown in from Harry’s hometown of Brooklyn to this day.
In 1975 the new restaurant opened at 2802 Williamson Rd NW and today little has purposely changed. The New Yorker remains a melting pot. It is not uncommon to walk into the New Yorker and see all walks of life from CEO’s to regular working Joes, sitting together and enjoying the same mouth-watering deli food.
Sadly both Harry and Eileen are now gone but the traditions of the New Yorker have lived on. Now a Roanoke landmark, the New Yorker continues to be run by the Russell family who have strived to maintain and preserve its value oriented tradition and the family’s timeless recipes created and begun by Harry & Eileen Russell.
With Loving Memories
Pat, Mike, and Elaine Russell
