Hymie’s Delicatessen, now owned by Louis Barson, is located at 342 Montgomery Avenue, in Merion. Murray’s is at 285 Montgomery Avenue, in Bala Cynwyd. Don’t be fooled by the different postal addresses. The distance between the two restaurants is 463 feet.
In that respect, things aren’t much different now than in 1939 when Hymie’s was located at 430 S. 60th Street, while Murray’s was two blocks away at 239 S. 60th Street. And in the late 1940s, Sam Barson (Louis’s father) opened his luncheonette at 602 S. 60th Street [Correction – Leon Barson opened Barson’s 60th St. Store. Sons Sam and Jerry worked there.]
Then in the early 1950s, Barsons came to 7312 Haverford Avenue, while Murrays, 397 feet away, was at 7232 Haverford Avenue.
Hymie’s never did have a deli monopoly on Montgomery Avenue. When Herman “Hymie” Nuremberg opened his store on the new Montgomery Avenue strip in 1951, he joined (Crazy) Abe Pomerantz, who had been operating his deli in the space Murray’s took over in the early 70s. Abe opened his Montgomery deli in the early 1930s.
In 1960, Nuremberg sold Hymie’s to Carl and Charlie Wilner. They, in turn, sold it to Sam Barson in the late 1970s.
Before arriving in Lower Merion, Murray’s operated what for some time was an extremely popular restaurant on 54th Street, near City Line.
1957 ad for Murray’s new 54th Streeet Location
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Leon Barson operated the luncheonette on 60th street. Sons Sam and Jerry worked for him.
Thanks. Correction made.