137 East Houston Street in the Lower East Side of Manhattan is the address of one of New York City’s oldest surviving food institutions. Yonah Schimmel Knish Bakery was opened in 1910 by an Austro-Hungarian Jewish immigrant and symbolizes the long-lasting effect potatoes have on New York’s culinary culture. Formerly a pushcart peddler, Schimmel opened up his iconic Knish bakery and spread the aroma of the baked knish to the diverse and crowded streets of the Lower East Side.

The Knish, a baked pastry filled with potatoes, was not just a yummy food that many Jewish immigrants loved. The Knish symbolizes Jewish identity and substance. The Knish and other potato-based foods allowed Jewish immigrants to provide for themselves physically, economically, and culturally. They are inexpensive, rich in calories, and allowed Jewish immigrants to preserve their identity. As the Knishes gained recognition beyond the Jewish community, Irish laborers, local factory workers, and native New Yorkers enjoyed them as a quick, inexpensive meal

Today, tourists and locals alike enjoy visiting the bakery and eat some authentic knish and bagel with lox and cream cheese. The bakery’s outdated storefront illustrates the originality and authenticity of the store, also reminding visitors of the significant contribution immigrants have made to the New York culinary landscape. Ultimately, Yonah Schimmel Knish Bakery is just one of the many examples of how traditional immigrant foods allowed immigrants to adapt to the Lower East Side and have ingrained into New York City’s culture. So next time you are in the Lower East Side, don’t forget to stop at this bakery where you can not only enjoy the delicious Knish but also appreciate the rich history behind it!