This picture (from Google Life images) was taken in 1962 by Leonard Mccombe. From the reflection, I believe it’s a Cobb’s Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge, but I can’t find any further information on this intreguing looking place. Where was it?
Mystery Santa and his mysterious diner
21 replies on “Mystery Santa and his mysterious diner”
Looks more like COBBS than CHUBBS to me.
Oops, you’re right. I’ll change the caption now. I can’t find anything on COBBS either!
I remember Cobb’s in Grand Central Terminal in NYC in the 1960s. You could enter through the Vanderbilt Hall (main waiting room) side and I believe they also had a outside door. Might have been on the corner of 42nd and Lexington Ave. Liggett’s drug store was to it’s right (looking from the inside). They served a good breakfast and their cheeseburgers were very good for lunch. Don’t really know what they might have had for dinner. Outside of GCT on the other side of 42nd Street was the Horn & Hardardt Automat.
How long does it take for a reply to appear. Replied 2 days ago!!
I used to work at the Childs’ Pancake House in Grand Central Station..at 43rd and Lex back in the late 60’s..I believe the Childs restaurants and the Cobbs Corner restaurants were related, as I used to be a floater (a sub) and would work in many different locations..mostly being central Manhattan..
Yes I know Childs. I used to meet my grandmother there
Would you be willing to be interviewed about your time at Childs?
I used to work at the Childs’ Pancake House in Grand Central Station..at 43rd and Lex back in the late 60’s..I believe the Childs restaurants and the Cobbs Corner restaurants were related, as I used to be a floater (a sub) and would work in many different locations..mostly being central Manhattan..
Childs & Cobbs we’re own by the Ries Brothers, who bought a series of NY restaurants including Longchamps.
Can you also find anything about Grant’s Bar on 42st Street? I’ve seen a few pictures of the front in about 1960-70s but have been unable to find what happened to them. They served hot dogs and burgers at one end, glasses of beer at stand up bar in one corner and a working bar with hard liquor on the other side. I was in at the beer bar a few times until one day they were shut down. Looked like they were condemned.
http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/GRANTS-HOT-DOGS-TIMES-SQUARE-m238106.aspx
Thanks, Mick
http://www.mykoladementiuk.com
Looks like it could be across the street from Cobbs Restaurant and a Woolworth’s. Found a bunch of Cobbs Corner Restaurants in a 1960 Manhattan telephone book at NYPL and a Cobb Restaurant at 60 E 42.
In a classic episode of That Girl, she gets a bowling ball stuck on her toe. Don helps her out of the bowling alley and onto the street in Manhattan. A big Cobbs diner is right across the street. I’m guessing it was the one at 42nd and Lex.
Yes, that’s episode 24 of season 5 at about 14 minutes into the episode. Here’s a link to that scene:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWd-t4pKA6g&t=14m8s
It does look like Cobb’s Restaurant which was attached to the Taft Hotel back in the 60’s. I used to stay at the Taft each year on high school break and ate at Cobb’s.
My father managed the Cobbs Corner restaurant at 48 and Lexington avenue in NYC for later part of 1950s and most of 1960s.. I loved going to work with him during Sunday brunch events. Good times…miss you Dad
There was a Cobbs Corner on 48th and Broadway across from McGuinness. I have a good color photo of it but no where to post it.
You can post photos to Shorpy.com under “members gallery”
Where Santa was sitting, it looks like Cobbs was across the street, going by the reflection.
It is by the Hotel Taft. Look at the upper right reflection.
Santa is at Ham & Egg 50 St & Bway near Roseland .
There is a street view of a Cobbs Restaurant in Season 5 Episode 24 of “That Girl” at about 14 minutes into the episode. According to Wikipedia that episode aired March 19th, 1971.
Here is a link to that scene:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWd-t4pKA6g&t=14m
In that shot you can see a Ham and Egg across the street.