It's the end of an era and a sad sad day

One of the institutions at my seminary had nothing (and perhaps everything) to do with theological education. Since 1978 Frankie's Deli has been the place seminarians went to be fed, literally and figuratively. Good cheap food and coffee, a carton of OJ or some cat food when you didn't have time to go to the "real" grocery store, the newspaper on Sunday morning--Frankie's was good for all these things and more--a smile, a joke, a quick hug, a word of encouragement. Frankie was "Papi"--father, uncle and grandfather to us all.

Frankie's Deli is a little hole in the wall kind of place--old, crowded, and always just barely up to code, but it is a place fueled by love--and today on FB seminary alumni and friends got the official word that Frankie's is closing at the end of this year. He has lost his lease. It doesn't surprise me, given the reality of real estate in NYC; Frankie almost lost his lease while I was there, but a last minute negotiation saved him. This time, it appears, there will be no such luck. Frankie is in his 70s, and would likely have to retire at some point, but this forced closing is so sad.

Frankie's is important not only to the seminary community but also to the people of the neighborhood, especially the less affluent residents who like in any NYC neighborhood, are scattered around the area, and concentrated just to the south of the seminary. Like the seminarians they flocked to Frankie's not only because it was cheap and convenient but because Frankie cared about them. Once Frankie got to know you, you would never go without if he could help it.

Frankie, you are an icon of all that is good and right in this world. And Chelsea will not be the same without you.

It's a sad, sad day.