Clip of the Day

The Orgel family has just opened their deli for the neighborhood. The Pastrami and Corned Beef sandwiches are larger than any deli I have ever been to in the city. The sandwich prices are fair; 50 cents. The pickles are crisp and sour, the coleslaw is fresh, and the chopped liver is delicious. Carnegie Deli is featuring recipes from Eastern Europe. There are 40 seats and a small counter.

The year was 1935. The place was Springfield, Massachusetts. The Great Depression had weakened the nation and good, secure jobs were few and far between. Undaunted by the dismal economy and inspired by a vote of confidence loan from their parents, two spunky brothers – 20 year-old Prestley Blake and 18 year-old Curtis Blake – opened a modest neighborhood ice cream shoppe. The young entrepreneurs named their business "Friendly" with the intention of providing warm, caring, neighborly service to all who visited their new enterprise. The only menu item was a double dip ice cream cone, which cost 5 cents.