Browne's Chop House was a
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
restaurant that was popular with the theatrical crowd. It closed in 1925.
[Grimes, William (2009)]
''Appetite City: A Culinary History of New York''
p. 74.
History
Founding
The establishment was founded by the actor George F. Browne as early as 1857 and at least by 1861 was an eating place for actors, known as the Green Room.
[(1 June 1885)]
"George F. Browne Dead; The Old Actor and Chop House Keeper Gone After a Long Illness"
''New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...
''. It was originally located on Fourteenth Street near
Wallack's Theatre
Three New York City playhouses named Wallack's Theatre played an important part in the history of American theater, as the successive homes of the Repertory theatre, stock company managed by actors James William Wallack, James W. Wallack and hi ...
, where Browne was a member of the company. It later moved to 33–35 West Twenty-Eighth Street and then to 31 West Twenty-Seventh Street.
[''Appleton's Dictionary of New York''](_blank)
(1890). p. 48. Browne's was located on 27th Street in 1890.[Mower, Henry S. (1912)]
''Reminiscences of a Hotel Man of Forty Year's Service''
pp. 117–118. Memories of the Twenty-Seventh Street location.[(19 November 1891)]
"They Made No Noise"
''Daily Yellowstone Journal'' (reprinted from ''New York Advertiser'', the story of twelve deaf men who dined at Browne's). Frank Farrington bought it after Browne's death and owned it for thirty years.
[(20 October 1921)]
Frank E. Farrington (obituary)
''New York Times''.
The restaurant moved to 1424 Broadway, near Fortieth Street, around 1898, across the street from the
Metropolitan Opera House and next door to the
Empire Theatre. It walls were covered with play programs and signed photographs.
[(18 September 1911)]
"Famous Chop House Opened to Women"
''New York Times''.[(28 January 1940)]
''New York Times''.[''Where and How to Dine in New York''](_blank)
(1903), pp. 34–36.[Niksah (28 October 1919)]
"Brown's Chop House"
''Arizona Republican''.
The
New York Friars Club
The Friars Club is a private club in New York City. Famous for its risqué roasts, the club's membership is composed mostly of comedians and other celebrities. Founded in 1904, it is located at 57 East 55th Street, between Park Avenue and Madi ...
met regularly at the restaurant when the club was founded in 1904.
[(12 May 1950)]
"Friars Club Opens Its New Building"
''New York Times''. Women were not permitted to dine there until the upstairs room was opened to them on Sundays starting in 1911.
Closing
Browne's closed at the end of June 1925. Its final owner, F. J. Farrington, blamed the growth of speakeasies and cafeterias for the closing, in addition to rising rents and the northward move of the theatrical district.
[(30 June 1925)]
''New York Times''.[(30 June 1925)]
"Browne's Cop House, New York Favorite for 78 Years, to Close"
''Chicago Tribune
The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television ar ...
''.[Brock, H.L. (12 July 1925]
"Browne's Chop House Flees from Soft-Drink Era"
''New York Times''.
After the closing of the restaurant, the furnishings and photographs were sold at a public auction. One collector bought all the memorabilia for $480.
[(August 19, 1925)]
"Browne's Curios Sold"
''Variety''. The owners of the
Schrafft's
Schrafft's was a candy, chocolate and cake company based in Sullivan Square, Charlestown, Massachusetts. The famous Schrafft's neon sign is a significant landmark in Boston, although the former factory it sits above, constructed in 1928, has been ...
restaurant chain leased the building for a tea room.
[(1 August 1925)]
"Schrafft's Leases New Tea Room Site; The Frank G. Shattuck Co. Takes Over Browne's Chop House"
''New York Times''.[(30 June 1925)]
"Tea Room in Place of Chop House"
''Brooklyn Daily Eagle''.
Present day
Today, the former location of Browne's and the Empire Theatre is occupied by a 22-story office building built for Lowenstein & Sons, completed in 1956.
[(17 April 1953)]
''New York Times''.
References
External links
Photo of Browne's Chop House
{{Midtown South, Manhattan
Defunct restaurants in New York City
1857 establishments in New York (state)
1925 disestablishments in New York (state)
Culture of New York City
Cuisine of New York City