Cattleman Restaurant

Cattleman Restaurant was a steakhouse in New York City founded in 1958 by restaurateur Larry Ellman. Proceeds from the sale of his vending machine and automatic feeding business enabled this new venture. The original locattion was on Lexington Avenue at 47th. Street.
History
The sales from its very first full year in 1959 were $450,000 and by 1967 they were over $4,000,000 a year.<ref name="Long"/> Later Ellman later opened a location in the Fred F. French Building on the northeast corner of Fifth Avenue and 45th Street with seating for 400, and also opened the Cattleman West located at 45 West 45 Street. The business ran for almost 30 years, but in 1989 what had become an tradition for tourists and locals alike finally closed its doors. Some employees had worked at the restaurant from the beginning.
Entertainment
Starting in 1961, Ellman introduced sing-along sessions every evening from 9 until 2 a.m. led by Bill Farrell.<ref name="Lex"/> This led to a 20% increase in business over the first few months. Over the years he added stagecoach rides around the block, to girls dancing the can can, clowns on Saint Patrick's Day and other holidays with balloons, to cigars for the men.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu