The new restoration is happening thanks to a Backing Historic Small Restaurants grant from American Express together with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. B&H is one of 25 restaurants in the entire U.S. — and the ONLY restaurant in NYC — to get the grant.New storefront, yes, BUT in line with our look historically; we are working with plans approved by the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission.We got the grant in June 2022, but it took us until just last Friday to get the work permits! (Long story, we'll tell you over a blintz someday.)
The folks at B&H Dairy on Second Avenue reposted the above shot today... Santiago Durango and Steve Albini of Big Black eating at B&H in July 1986... © photo by Gail Butensky. Find more of her work here.
The final straw came a few days before Christmas, when city inspectors ordered B&H to dismantle their newly-erected sidewalk structure, due to its proximity to a curbside tree. (The bus lane on 2nd Avenue means B&H can't take advantage of on-street dining).
By that point, they'd already relocated the outdoor area twice to meet the city’s demands, while investing thousands of dollars in new wiring that will, in theory, eventually allow them to connect an outdoor heater. "When the man stopped by and told me about the tree, I almost had a heart attack. No one ever mentioned the tree, all of a sudden they remember the tree," Ola told Gothamist on a recent morning. "I give this place so much heart and emotion to continue the tradition, and the city wants to destroy us."
It is essentially impossible to think of the East Village without thinking of Mahmoud "Mike" Tarabih, the self-described "grill man" at neighborhood mainstay B&H Dairy. Tarabih has been crafting tuna melts and greasy omelettes while also serving as B&H’s de facto, wildly charming host for the last 14 years, remembering the names and orders of every single person who's ever visited the kosher diner.
We know each other from back home, from Egypt. [Co-owner Fawzy Abdelwahed] is my friend from back home, same city. When I came to New York, he invited me to see the place. I liked the place, and when I started, I loved the place 100 percent. It was not like customers, it was like family. Everyone asks each other what’s going on in their lives. Nobody was like, "I'm the boss,” you know? That's why I loved my place. I did my best. I worked from my heart. When I cook, I cook from my soul.
When you love what you’re doing, it’s like a child. I have two children at home, this [job] is my third child. I love it. I just love it. Every part. I come in the morning, I smell the food fresh, and I finish my day, I say, “Thank God, everybody went home happy. Everybody is happy.”
I’m looking. I talk to my friends. But nothing is happening. I'll take any job. I don't care. I've already called a lot of people, but a lot of places are still closed. We’ll see. Thank God, I have a lot of friends to help me. I'm happy. The only problem is I lost my job during a bad time. I have two families to support.
Dear B&H Family,
As you know we have been struggling to survive the pandemic as a business. While we are now “open,” we wanted to update you with a reality check as to our situation as of today.
B&H, like many, if not all restaurants, large or small, remains at risk of closing. That is a fact. Anyone who is under the impression that because a restaurant “open,” all is “back to normal,” is not grasping the reality of the pandemic and its consequences.
We went from serving 200 customers a day to only 20 customers a day when we first reopened for pick-up and delivery. We had to cover paying our employees, rent, utilities, and buying food for the restaurant on only 10% of our previous income.
We started an ongoing GoFundMe campaign, to which many of you continue to donate repeatedly, for which we are deeply grateful.
When we were able to reopen, we made changes, accepting credit cards and using food delivery apps for the first time, which increased our customers to about 50 a day, on a good day. Still not back to normal.
We applied for all appropriate relief loans and grants from various city and government agencies, none of which have been granted so far, except for one tiny grant early on, which covered a fraction of one month’s rent, and has since been repaid. To date, though several applications are pending, we have received no further government assistance or relief.
This weekend we adjusted our hours, now closing on Mondays, and cut staff, saying goodbye to Mike. Though he had been with B&H for 14 years, he was one of our most junior employees. Many of our remaining staff are the sole breadwinner for their families.
We are in a fight to survive. We hope that the combination of business, our GoFundMe campaign, and we pray, government relief, will allow us to ride out this storm. This has been a very stressful time for everyone at B&H, so much so, that Ola is now under a doctor’s care.
However, we have faith in B&H! We have been around since 1938, been through numerous owners, staff, closures, and disasters, such as the Spring 2015 2nd Ave. gas explosion, and yet have survived. We thank you, our B&H Family, for your continued love and support.
"I was in the restaurant. The protest came by and someone threw a big bottle in our window. They also broke the window at the bakery and set garbage on fire. I was scared. [Her husband and co-owner] Fawzy ran to the restaurant and stayed until it was not so crazy. Rafael and Hugo stayed until midnight. Mike and Leo are there and everything is OK, but we won’t get the new windows until [today], so Fawzy is spending the tonight in the restaurant."
We hope this makes ordering easier for everyone. Though we are open for take-out and delivery, we are not yet doing the volume of business needed to sustain being open and it is possible that we may temporarily close again next week.
Before the pandemic we served 200 customers a day. Now we serve 20-30 on a good day.
