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Soup Kitchen International

Soup Kitchen International was a well-known soup restaurant at 259-A West 55th Street, near 8th Avenue, in Manhattan, New York City, run by Al Yeganeh.

As of April 2006, the 55th Street location was closed, with the windows soaped over. A statement on Soup Kitchen International's website states that the 55th Street location and the entire building wall next to it are available "for sale or lease" until December of 2019.^[1]

Iranian-born Yeganeh was the inspiration for the "Soup Nazi" character in the similarly-named episode of the NBC television sitcom Seinfeld. Yeganeh has stated on numerous occasions that he is very offended by the "Soup Nazi" moniker ^[2]. It is in this episode where Yeganeh is fictionally portrayed as the tyrannical purveyor of his soups, making all of his customers follow a strict set of rules if they wish to successfully procure a bowl of one of his coveted liquid masterpieces. The real Yeganeh has stated that his rules are simply an attempt to keep the line moving and serve the largest number of people.

In order to provide the most efficient service to his customers, Yeganeh established a set of "rules" for ordering his soup:

• Pick the soup you want.
• Have your money ready.
• Move to the extreme left after ordering. ^[3]
• Another added rule, created after the Seinfeld episode, states not to mention "The N Word."

Supposedly, if these rules are not followed, the offending patron is denied service and usually sent to the back of the line. However, at the first franchise of Yeganeh's "The Original Soup Man" restaurants (in Princeton, New Jersey), the rules are posted but not enforced in such an extreme manner. It is somewhat difficult to separate fact from fiction in this case, as reporters interviewing Yeganeh tend to casually alienate him at once by mentioning "Seinfeld" and the "Soup Nazi" description, which he finds to be very offensive and disregarding to him as a chef and entrepreneur.^{[citation needed]}

It has been revealed that once, Jerry Seinfeld and several members of the production team went to Soup Kitchen International for lunch weeks after "The Soup Nazi" aired. Upon recognizing Jerry, Yeganeh went into a profanity-filled rant about how the show had "ruined" his business and demanded an apology. Allegedly, Jerry gave "the most insincere, sarcastic apology ever given," according to writer Spike Feresten. Obviously having seen the episode, Yeganeh then bellowed "No soup for you!" and evicted them from the restaurant.^[4]

Soup Kitchen International Inc., the "Original Soup Man", and Yeganeh, announced on April 22, 2005, that a retail line of "heat-n-serve" soups would be available in May at select grocery stores. There are now five different variations available made by SoBe Beverages and supervised by Al Yeganeh. The fresh soups are packaged in 15 oz. ‘Grab-N-Go’ clear packages. Since its launch May 2005, The Original SoupMan line of soups has found its way into 14 states and about 1,100 stores across the United States and Canada. The company also offers a line of frozen soups that as of September, 2007 are carried at SuperTarget stores.

'Original Soup Man' franchises are also being opened in various cities throughout the United States and Canada, including six in Manhattan. The soups are made in his industrial kitchen in Piscataway, New Jersey. ^[5] The more than 50 franchises throughout the country are provided with some 45 soup varieties in 8-lb bags available in rotation.

Reportedly, the strictness popularized by the original location need not neccesarily be followed but Yeganeh has banned any Soup Nazi references by franchisees and their staff while on the job and has strongly encouraged his franchise owners to avoid references to Seinfeld in their promotions. Yeganeh accepts media inquiries, but his "media rules" forbid mention of "the 'N' word" (for Nazi), personal questions, or follow-up questions. Interviews are only conducted via e-mail. Failing that, the journalist receives an e-mail where it reads: "NO INTERVIEW FOR YOU! NEXT!" ^[6]

The 1993 romantic comedy Sleepless in Seattle also refers to him — though not by name — as explained in the commentary.

1. ^ Soup Kitchen Intl website
2. ^ Associated Press via CNN Money
3. ^ Original Soupman Website- Rules
4. ^ See the Season 7 DVD extras, in which during the episode's "inside look", Feresten recounts this story.
5. ^ The Daily Princetonian
6. ^ Media Rules

• Article about Al Yeganeh in the March 1996 issue of The Iranian

• Soup Kitchen International
• Original Soup Man