Browne's Chop House

Coordinates: 40°45′15″N 73°59′13″W / 40.75417°N 73.98694°W

Browne's Chop House

Industry	Restaurant
Founded	1857 (claimed)
Defunct	1925
Headquarters	New York City
Key people	George F. Browne; Farrington family[1]

Browne's Chop House was a New York City restaurant that closed in 1925, popular with the theatrical crowd.^[2]

The establishment was founded by actor George F. Browne, as early as 1857, though at least by 1861, as an eating room called the "Green Room" for actors.^[3] It was originally located in Fourteenth Street near Wallack's Theatre, where Browne was a member of the company. It later moved to 33-35 West Twenty-Eighth Street, followed by 31 West Twenty-Seventh Street.^[4][5][6] Frank Farrington bought it after Browne's death and owned it for thirty years.^[7]

It finally moved to Broadway near Fortieth Street around 1898 (1424 Broadway), 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.^{[8][9][10][11]}

The New York Friars Club met regularly at the restaurant when it was founded in 1904.^[12] Women were not permitted to dine there, until the upstairs room was open to them on Sundays starting in 1911.^[8]

Browne's closed at the end of June 1925. 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.^[13][14][15]

After closing, all the furnishings and photographs were sold at a public auction. One collector bought all the memorabilia for $480.^[16] The owners of the Schrafft's restaurant chain leased the building for a tea room.^[17][18]

Today, the former location of Browne's and Empire Theatre is occupied by a 22-story office building built for Lowenstein & Sons, completed in 1956.^[19]

References

1. (17 January 1919). Jonas M. Farrington (death notice), New York Tribune
2. Grimes, William. Appetite City: A Culinary History of New York, p. 74 (2009)
3. (1 June 1885). George F. Browne Dead; The Old Actor and Chop House Keeper Gone After a Long Illness, The New York Times
4. Appleton's Dictionary of New York, p. 48 (1890) (located on 27th St. in 1890)
5. Mower, Henry S. Reminiscences of a Hotel Man of Forty Year's Service, p. 117-18 (1912) (memories of Twenty-seventh street location)
6. (19 November 1891). They Made No Noise, Daily Yellowstone Journal (reprinted from New York Advertiser) (story of twelve deaf men who dined at Browne's)
7. (20 October 1921). Frank E. Farrington (obituary), The New York Times
8. (18 September 1911). Famous Chop House Opened to Women, The New York Times
9. (28 January 1940). Louis C. Pfeifle; Chef Here Many Years Began His Career at Buckingham Palace, The New York Times
10. Where and how to dine in New York, pp. 34-36 (1903)
11. Niksah (28 October 1919). Brown's Chop House, Arizona Republican
12. (12 May 1950). Friars Club Opens Its New Building, The New York Times
13. (30 June 1925). Another Old Broadway Landmark Will Pass With Closing of Browne's Chop House Tonight, The New York Times
14. (30 June 1925). Browne's Cop House, New York Favorite for 78 Years, to Close, Chicago Tribune
15. Brock, H.L. (12 July 1925) Browne's Chop House Flees From Soft-Drink Era, The New York Times
16. (August 19, 1925)Browne's Curios Sold, Variety
17. (1 August 1925). Schrafft's Leases New Tea Room Site; The Frank G. Shattuck Co. Takes Over Browne's Chop House, The New York Times
18. (30 June 1925). Tea Room in Place of Chop House, Brooklyn Daily Eagle
19. (17 April 1953). New Owners Seen in Empire May 31, The New York Times

External links

• Photo of Browne's Chop House