The Original Soupman

The Original Soupman is an American soup brand rooted in Soup Kitchen International, a small Manhattan restaurant operated by Iranian-American soup vendor Ali “Al” Yeganeh. The original shop began operating in 1984 at 259-A West 55th Street in Midtown Manhattan. It developed a strong local following not only for its soups but also for Yeganeh’s highly controlled service style. Customers were expected to decide what they wanted before reaching the counter and to move through the line quickly; people who delayed or challenged the rules could be skipped or asked to leave. This unusual operating culture became part of the restaurant’s identity and helped distinguish it from ordinary neighborhood food outlets. The restaurant’s wider fame came from the 1995 Seinfeld episode “The Soup Nazi.” The fictional character Yev Kassem was based on public accounts of Yeganeh and his strict customer policies. Although the episode made the restaurant a recognizable piece of American popular culture, Yeganeh objected to the “Soup Nazi” portrayal and reportedly resented the attention it brought. The brand therefore occupied an unusual position: its cultural visibility was immense, but the person whose business inspired the character sought to limit direct association with the nickname and discouraged franchise employees from using it in customer interactions or marketing. The original West 55th Street location closed in 2004, although Yeganeh retained the lease while considering a broader commercial model. The business subsequently developed The Original Soupman as a chain and licensing platform. Yeganeh licensed his name, recipes, and likeness, while soups were prepared in an industrial kitchen in Linden, New Jersey. Franchise locations operated in several American and Canadian cities, including multiple Manhattan sites. The concept also reached nontraditional venues, such as the University of South Carolina’s Russell House University Union, where a campus franchise opened in 2008. The brand expanded beyond restaurants into retail food. In 2005, it announced a line of refrigerated “heat-n-serve” soups made by SoBe Beverages under Yeganeh’s supervision. The products were sold in clear 15-ounce packages and eventually reached grocery stores in fourteen states and more than 7,000 stores across the United States and Canada, according to the brand’s historical account. Franchisees and business partners could receive a rotating selection of approximately forty-five soup varieties in eight-pound bags. The soups were also distributed through other food-service and franchising networks, including Ranch One and Cold Stone Creamery locations. The company encountered severe financial and governance problems in 2017. Its chief financial officer, Robert Bertrand, was charged with failing to pay federal payroll-related taxes, including Medicare, Social Security, and federal income taxes. The chain filed for bankruptcy less than two months after the arrest, and its physical locations closed. In September 2017, the company’s assets, including licenses connected to Yeganeh and the licensed image of Larry Thomas, the actor who played the Seinfeld character, were sold to Gallant Brands, led by Joseph Hagan. The post-bankruptcy business initially concentrated on grocery sales after losing many restaurant customers. The brand later rebuilt parts of its distribution network. It re-entered New York City’s public-school lunch program after modifying recipes, expanded sales through New York-area delis and supermarkets, and opened a Times Square kiosk in December 2018. The original Manhattan site also reopened in late 2018 under the name The Original Soup Kitchen. Yeganeh was no longer responsible for day-to-day operations, but retained ownership of the brand name and oversight of the recipes. The Original Soupman therefore represents both a restaurant-origin brand and a licensed packaged-food business whose reputation has been shaped by a distinctive founder, a famous television depiction, franchising, grocery distribution, and a major bankruptcy and relaunch.

The Original Soupman traces its history to Ali “Al” Yeganeh’s Soup Kitchen International in Midtown Manhattan. The restaurant began operating in 1984 at 259-A West 55th Street, between Broadway and Eighth Avenue. It became known for carefully prepared soups and for Yeganeh’s demanding service rules. Customers were expected to know their order, avoid unnecessary conversation, and keep the line moving. The restaurant’s strictness was sufficiently notable to attract coverage in a 1989 New Yorker profile, which portrayed Yeganeh as intensely focused on controlling the customer experience and protecting the speed of service. A major turning point came in 1995, when Seinfeld broadcast “The Soup Nazi.” The episode’s fictional soup seller, Yev Kassem, drew on the public image of Yeganeh and his restaurant. Larry Thomas played the character and later received a Primetime Emmy nomination for his guest performance. The episode created enduring public recognition for the real business, but it also caused tension. Yeganeh objected to the nickname and to the increased attention. Accounts of a later visit by Jerry Seinfeld and members of the production team describe a hostile exchange in which Yeganeh blamed the program for disrupting his business and expelled the visitors. The West 55th Street restaurant closed in 2004, although Yeganeh retained the lease. Rather than abandoning the concept, he pursued expansion through a branded chain and licensing arrangements. The Original Soupman used Yeganeh’s name, likeness, and recipes, while production was centralized in an industrial kitchen in Linden, New Jersey. Franchisees received soup in large food-service bags and could offer a rotating selection of roughly forty-five varieties. The chain established or licensed locations in American and Canadian cities, including four in Manhattan. A 2008 opening at the University of South Carolina’s Russell House University Union represented an effort to bring the format into institutional and campus food service; that venue later closed. The business also pursued retail distribution. In April 2005, Soup Kitchen International, The Original Soupman, and Yeganeh announced a grocery line of refrigerated heat-and-serve soups. SoBe Beverages manufactured the products under Yeganeh’s supervision. The soups were sold in 15-ounce clear packages and subsequently reached a substantial multi-state and Canadian retail footprint. This move broadened the brand beyond restaurants and reduced its dependence on individual storefronts. The company’s food-service and subfranchise relationships included networks such as Ranch One and Cold Stone Creamery. The brand’s relationship with its television association remained complicated. Yeganeh discouraged franchises and employees from using “Soup Nazi” references while working and generally preferred to separate the company from the fictional character. Nevertheless, the business used occasional allusions such as “Soup for you!” and later licensed Larry Thomas’s image for promotional purposes. This represented a pragmatic shift: the cultural association that Yeganeh had resisted could also be used as a marketing asset when controlled by the brand. In 2017, the company entered a severe crisis. CFO Robert Bertrand was arrested and charged with income tax evasion after alleged failures to pay payroll-related and federal taxes dating back to 2010. The chain filed for bankruptcy less than two months later, and its physical restaurants closed. A September 2017 bankruptcy sale transferred the company’s assets and relevant licenses to Gallant Brands, headed by Joseph Hagan. The collapse damaged the restaurant network and caused the company to lose many major customers, leaving grocery sales as the principal continuing business for a period. Bertrand later pleaded guilty and received a nine-month prison sentence in 2018. During the restructuring period, the brand modified recipes and regained entry to New York City’s public-school lunch program. It then expanded into local delis and supermarkets and returned to physical retail with a Times Square kiosk in December 2018. The original location also reopened later in 2018 as The Original Soup Kitchen. Yeganeh no longer handled daily operations, but continued to own the brand name and oversee the soup recipes. The brand’s history consequently combines a famous independent restaurant, media-driven recognition, franchising, packaged-food commercialization, financial collapse, and a partial retail and restaurant revival.

• 2018

  Brand returns to public-school food service

  [1]The Original Soupmanen.wikipedia.org

  After recipe changes, the company re-enters New York City’s public-school lunch program.

• 2018

  Times Square kiosk opens after bankruptcy

  [1]The Original Soupmanen.wikipedia.org

  The brand resumes physical retail operations with a kiosk in Times Square.

• 2017

  Tax case and bankruptcy disrupt the chain

  [1]The Original Soupmanen.wikipedia.org

  The CFO is charged over unpaid taxes, the chain files for bankruptcy, and physical stores close.

• 2017

  Assets sold to Gallant Brands

  [1]The Original Soupmanen.wikipedia.org

  A bankruptcy sale transfers the company’s assets and relevant licenses to Gallant Brands under Joseph Hagan.

• 2015

  Larry Thomas promotional-image license announced

  [1]The Original Soupmanen.wikipedia.org

  Soupman announces a licensing arrangement involving the actor associated with the Seinfeld soup-vendor character.

• 2008

  First reported college-campus franchise opens

  [1]The Original Soupmanen.wikipedia.org

  An Original Soupman franchise opens at the University of South Carolina’s Russell House University Union.

• 2005

  Packaged heat-and-serve soups launch

  [1]The Original Soupmanen.wikipedia.org

  A refrigerated grocery line is introduced through SoBe Beverages, extending the brand into retail food.

• 2004

  Original West 55th Street restaurant closes

  [1]The Original Soupmanen.wikipedia.org

  The original site closes while Yeganeh retains the lease and considers broader expansion.

• 1995

  Seinfeld broadcasts the Soup Nazi episode

  [1]The Original Soupmanen.wikipedia.org

  The fictional Yev Kassem character brings broad popular recognition to the real soup vendor who inspired it.

• 1989

  The restaurant receives national profile coverage

  [1]The Original Soupmanen.wikipedia.org

  A New Yorker profile documents the restaurant’s popularity and Yeganeh’s strict approach to customer behavior.

• 1984

  Soup Kitchen International begins operating in Midtown Manhattan

  [1]The Original Soupmanen.wikipedia.org

  Al Yeganeh opens the original soup restaurant on West 55th Street in New York City.

A distinctive, chef-associated soup brand combining an iconic New York restaurant origin, strong founder mythology, licensed recipes, franchised food service, and packaged retail distribution.

• Prepared food · 1984

  Restaurant soups

  The core offering is a rotating selection of soups developed from Al Yeganeh’s recipes. Franchise operations reportedly used approximately forty-five varieties, supplied in large food-service bags from an industrial kitchen in Linden, New Jersey. The range supported both standalone soup shops and distribution through institutional and partner food-service locations.

• Packaged soup · 2005

  Heat-and-serve grocery soups

  Introduced in 2005, the refrigerated retail line was packaged in clear 15-ounce containers for reheating and consumption at home. SoBe Beverages produced the soups under Yeganeh’s supervision. The line expanded the brand from a restaurant experience into grocery retail and was reported to have reached stores across multiple U.S. states and Canada.

• Food-service product

  Food-service soup bags

  Franchisees were supplied with soups in eight-pound bags, allowing restaurants and partner outlets to serve the brand’s recipes without preparing every variety on site. The format supported centralized production and helped the company scale through franchising and subfranchising.

• 2017

  CFO tax-evasion case

  CFO Robert Bertrand was charged with income tax evasion related to alleged nonpayment of Medicare, Social Security, and federal income taxes dating back to 2010. He later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nine months in prison.

  Source

Read more

• 2015Larry Thomas promotional licensing

  United States

  The company licensed the image of Larry Thomas, the actor who portrayed the Seinfeld soup vendor, to promote Yeganeh’s soups. The arrangement formalized a marketing connection to the television association that Yeganeh had historically criticized.

  Outcome. The license became part of the brand’s promotional assets, although its continuing use after the later bankruptcy is unclear.

  Source

• 2018

  Post-bankruptcy return to institutional and physical retailStrategy

  Background

  Following the bankruptcy, the brand sought to restore distribution and customer access.

  Action taken

  It modified recipes to re-enter New York City’s public-school lunch program, expanded into delis and supermarkets, and opened a Times Square kiosk.

  Aftermath

  The brand regained a limited physical presence and broadened its post-bankruptcy sales channels.

  Source

• 2017

  Bankruptcy restructuring and asset saleOther

  Background

  The tax case involving the company’s CFO was followed by a bankruptcy filing and the closure of all physical locations.

  Action taken

  The company’s assets and relevant licenses were sold in a bankruptcy proceeding to Gallant Brands, led by Joseph Hagan.

  Aftermath

  The business initially continued mainly through grocery sales before rebuilding food-service and physical-retail activity.

  Source

• 2005

  Launch of refrigerated retail soupsProduct launch

  Background

  The restaurant brand sought to reach consumers outside its physical locations and make its recipes available through grocery channels.

  Action taken

  The company introduced 15-ounce heat-and-serve soups produced by SoBe Beverages under Yeganeh’s supervision.

  Aftermath

  The products were distributed through grocery stores in the United States and Canada.

  Source

• 2004

  Shift from the original restaurant toward brand expansionStrategy

  Background

  After the West 55th Street restaurant closed, Yeganeh retained the lease while exploring ways to commercialize the recipes and name beyond a single location.

  Action taken

  The business developed The Original Soupman as a franchised and licensed restaurant and packaged-food brand.

  Aftermath

  The concept expanded into multiple cities, institutional venues, and grocery distribution.

  Source

• 2018

  The Original Soupman reopens a Times Square kiosk[1]The Original Soupmanen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  After its bankruptcy and a period focused on grocery sales, the brand opened a physical post-bankruptcy location in Times Square.

• 2018

  The original Manhattan restaurant reopens as The Original Soup Kitchen[1]The Original Soupmanen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The original West 55th Street site reopened under its former restaurant name after the bankruptcy-era disruption.

• 2017

  The Original Soupman files for bankruptcy[1]The Original Soupmanen.wikipedia.org

  Bankruptcy

  The restaurant chain entered bankruptcy after the tax case, closing its physical locations and losing many major customers.

• 2015

  Soupman licenses Larry Thomas's image for promotion[1]The Original Soupmanen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign

  The company announced a license allowing the image of Larry Thomas, who played the Seinfeld soup vendor, to be used to promote Yeganeh's soups in the United States.

1. 1The Original Soupmanen.wikipedia.org