Lieberman’s Luncheonette, a family-run kosher breakfast restaurant in Borough Park, may close after its owners sell the property and retire following nearly six decades in business, according to Patch.
Shloimie and Roz Lieberman are seeking to sell the two-story building at 4801 16th Ave. for $2.8 million. The restaurant, located at the corner of 16th Avenue and 48th Street, remains open for now, and no closing date has been announced.
The business was purchased by Shloimie Lieberman’s father, Jacob, in 1968. Since then, it has served generations of customers with a focus on traditional cooking and strict kosher practices.
"We have grandchildren and we want to spend some time with them," Roz Lieberman said.
The compact restaurant has four wooden tables seating 12 people and a counter with room for 10 more. Its small dining area and individually prepared breakfasts have helped distinguish it in a neighborhood where kosher food is central to daily life for many residents.
The owners inspect eggs for blood spots before cooking them, discarding any that do not meet their standards. Eggs are kept on trays over ice until customers order omelets or sandwiches, which are then prepared individually in pans. The restaurant also uses dairy products that meet Cholov Yisroel standards, followed by some observant Jewish consumers.
Operating the luncheonette requires long days and an early start. The couple commutes from Staten Island, leaving home around 6:00a.m. to collect supplies before heading to Brooklyn. They typically return home around 5:00p.m., after the restaurant closes and employees finish cleaning.
Their daughters have pursued careers outside the family business. The couple hopes retirement will allow them to spend more time with their grandchildren, volunteer and devote more time to religious study.
The building, approximately 1,600 square feet, sits along a commercial corridor lined with shops and restaurants. Its sale could bring a change to a familiar neighborhood establishment, although the owners have commented on what a future operator might do with the space.
For now, the luncheonette continues serving customers. Whether its recipes, cooking methods and kosher standards will remain in place after a sale is uncertain.
