New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-04
SMITH & M'NELL'S
MAKE ASSIGNMENT
Famous Old Restaurant
Near Washington Market
Suffers Bad Business.
FOUNDERS RETIRED
SOME YEARS AGO
Debt S3S,000-Will Reorganize
and Keep Open Mean
while.

Smith & McNell's, without either Smith
or Mcneil, evidently won't do. Time was
when one might go TO 203 Washington
st., or make an entrance by way OF
Greenwich or Fulton or vesey ST.. and
find the thickest and iuiciest steaks in
the city for the price, pie that was pie
and buckwheat cakes that didn't re-
semble rubber. All Of which is pream-
BILE to the ne IS that an assignment was
made yesterday for the benefit of the
creditors.
"Tom" Mcneil, one of the founders
of what was TO become one of the best
known restaurants in the city, or coun-
try, or world, for that matter, retired
in April, 1911. lie had been OF the job
the day the original restaurant opened,
in 1853, and at eighty years of age he
| figured he had a rest coming 70 him.
The business was just plain part
nership for the purpose of provender
until 1902. Then corporation was
formed. The next era began when
Tom" Mcneil got out. Those who sue
ceeded him in the management didn't
d, very well, and last February new
faces again appeared. Greco-Roman
his been the style since then. 7. Val
entino, formerly Of the Broadway Cen
trail, and George S. Gatsos, who APP
pears in the assignment as president
and treasure, took hold.
SO far as is known, there is no COM
plant about the quality Of the food
! Jvided. The principal difficulty
seems to be eeogr- phical. In the ca y
days the ferries furnished lot OF
trade, milkmen and hack drivers being
the principal customers unit, the repu-
tation of the place attracted more es-
thetic appetites.
Later racegoers 70 Monmouth and
Guttenburg usually saved enough from
the betting ring TO get to Smith Nc
Nell's and forget the days reverses in
stomach and soul filling meal just
across the ferry. In recent years
Washington Market has furnished the
p. irons and the appetites.
At the moment the marketman is not
recalled who does not like his victuals
plain and plenty. OF course, the prices
had to 90 up. When tom" Mcneil re-
tired he said present day charges were
at least four times what they got in
the early days for food that was bet
ter.
Even with the modern twist to the
combination times have changed down
that way, and while 1t is expected that
some Of the old business of the neigh
borhood will be revived, the Smith &
Mcneil corporation has found it impos-
sible to keep going and pay the bills.
In the assignment the address is
given as 1873 Washington ST.; the as
signment is made to Harry J. Robinson,
whose attorney is c. s. Pinkney, of 23S
Broadway. Mr.. Robinson issued the
following statement last night:
Smith & McNells have been for
many years operating a hotel and res
taurant at Washington and Greenwich
SITS, in the Washington Market section.
1.-THE reasons for the assignment are
owing TO the falling off of business
caused by the changes and alterations
in Washington Market by the city,
which for the last year have resulted
in practically no market business in
q a. neighborhood.
"They operate hotel with 2s5 rooms
and it has been widely known for many
years.
"The Approximate debts are $4,000
or $4,000, and its assets consist of
furnishings, fixtures and machinery of
its hotel and plant.
at is expected that reorganiza-
ton will be effected, as IL is believed
that when the Washington Market i'm
improvements are completed by the
c.. and the stands opened that the
business, which has been for the last
year stagnant In that section, will
again revive"