The couple has a baby named Noah David, after Joe's brother. The tragic experiences taught them a number of life's lessons. Rhoda Kaplan says the experiences taught her not to sweat the little things. In the past 30 years, the Kaplans have seen tremendous changes in the restaurant business. They've closed the Mayfair store, and a deli venture downtown went south.
Competition is fiercer, although in a more general way.
If you eat somewhere else, you're not eating here, and that affects business. Customers want creativity in a menu, but only up to a point, he says. You can still change with the times, but they come here for a corned beef sandwich and matzoh ball soup. What hasn't changed is the desire for personal service and the need for a place where everyone knows your name. It's like a house slipper.