S&S Cheesecake

S&S Cheesecake is a kosher cheesecake producer based in the Bronx, New York. The business was opened in 1960 by Fred Schuster, a Holocaust survivor, and has remained focused on a deliberately narrow product proposition rather than developing a broad bakery or restaurant portfolio. Its stated motto, “doing one thing well,” reflects this specialization: the company is identified primarily with cheesecake and has built its reputation through production for restaurants, food retailers, and other customers. The brand’s business history is associated with New York’s Jewish food culture and with the city’s restaurant trade. S&S Cheesecake has supplied the steakhouse The Palm, Peter Luger Steakhouse, and the specialty food retailer Zabar’s. These relationships place the company within a premium and highly recognizable New York food ecosystem, where cheesecake functions both as a restaurant dessert and as a take-home specialty item. S&S is also notable as a family-associated enterprise. The company is described as being co-run by Fred Schuster’s Israeli son-in-law, Yair Ben-Zaken. Publicly available reference material provides limited information about the company’s corporate structure, ownership, finances, distribution footprint, product range, or current management beyond this family connection. Its enduring identity is therefore best understood as a focused kosher dessert producer whose differentiation comes from specialization, continuity, and relationships with established New York institutions.

S&S Cheesecake was opened in the Bronx, New York, in 1960 by Fred Schuster, who is described in reference material as a Holocaust survivor. From its beginning, the business concentrated on kosher cheesecake production rather than operating as a general-purpose bakery or expanding into a large restaurant concept. This narrow specialization became central to the brand’s identity and is summarized by its motto, “doing one thing well.” The company’s place in New York’s food economy developed through supply relationships with prominent restaurants and specialty retailers. S&S Cheesecake provided cheesecake for The Palm, a steakhouse group, and also supplied Peter Luger Steakhouse and Zabar’s. These associations helped connect the producer with established New York dining and gourmet-food institutions, while reinforcing its reputation as a specialist supplier rather than a mass-market packaged-food brand. The business later became associated with Schuster’s family through Yair Ben-Zaken, his Israeli son-in-law, who is identified as co-running the company. This indicates continuity across generations, although publicly available sources do not provide a detailed account of the transition, ownership arrangements, production capacity, retail distribution, or changes in management. The available record likewise does not establish a precise catalog of product variants or a national operating footprint. S&S Cheesecake’s documented history is consequently one of long-term specialization. Since its 1960 opening, the brand has been defined by kosher cheesecake, Bronx production, family continuity, and supply relationships with recognizable New York restaurants and food retailers. Its public profile remains closely tied to this focused identity rather than to advertising campaigns, acquisitions, public-company activity, or a broad portfolio of consumer brands.

• 1960

  S&S Cheesecake opens in the Bronx

  [1]S&S Cheesecakeen.wikipedia.org

  Fred Schuster founded and opened the kosher cheesecake producer in the Bronx, New York.

• Begins supplying established New York food businesses

  [1]S&S Cheesecakeen.wikipedia.org

  The company became a supplier to The Palm, Peter Luger Steakhouse, and Zabar’s, linking its cheesecake production to prominent restaurant and specialty-food institutions.

• Yair Ben-Zaken joins the family-run business

  [1]S&S Cheesecakeen.wikipedia.org

  Fred Schuster’s Israeli son-in-law, Yair Ben-Zaken, is identified as co-running the company.

A specialized kosher cheesecake producer emphasizing focused craftsmanship, continuity, and institutional restaurant and specialty-food relationships.

• Dessert · 1960

  Kosher cheesecake

  S&S Cheesecake’s core and defining product is kosher cheesecake. Public reference material presents the company as a focused cheesecake producer rather than documenting a wide range of separate product lines. Its cheesecakes have been supplied to restaurants and specialty food retailers, serving both as plated desserts and as take-home food products.

1. 1S&S Cheesecakeen.wikipedia.org