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The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) recently unveiled a tribute to the late Saul Zabar—owner of the iconic Zabar’s and widely regarded as the smoked fish king of the Upper West Side—along the platforms of the 79th Street 1 station, just a block away from the renowned deli, in the form of vinyl posters. The posters feature Zabar, who passed away last week at the age of 97, wearing his signature white Zabar’s coat.
“This tribute is the MTA’s way of honoring Saul, Zabar’s, and this special family that I’ve known my entire life, at the 79 St station, where thousands of New Yorkers can be reminded every day of his impact,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber in an official statement. “The Upper West Side won’t be the same without Saul, who helped a lot of businesses, not just his own, including the MTA.”
This isn’t the first collaboration of sorts between the two New York City institutions. Last year, Zabar’s and the MTA jointly celebrated milestone anniversaries, the former’s 90th and the latter’s 120th. To mark the occasion, the deli offered New Yorkers a “commuter special” featuring a $1.20 bagel with schmear, a $2.90 bagel with schmear and coffee, and a $9.90 bagel with cream cheese and lox. Each order was wrapped in custom bagel- and subway-themed paper. A collector’s item, if you ask us.
According to reports, the posters will stay up there “for the foreseeable future.”
For what it’s worth, we’d love to see the posters become a permanent fixture. After all, during his reign, Mr. Zabar helped shape New York City’s culinary culture in a myriad of ways. Paying tribute to him while riding the subway feels like the least we can do in return.