THE LAST JAHN’S, Jackson Heights

by Kevin Walsh

Jahn’s chain of ice cream “shoppes” once covered the NYC metropolitan area with a heady combination of lactose and sucrose. The first Jahn’s was opened way back in 1897 in Mott Haven, Bronx by John Jahn, which (disappointingly) is pronounced “John JAN.” His three children, Elsie, Frank and Howard, opened Jahn’s in Jamaica, Richmond Hill, and Flushing respectively. More Jahn’s opened in the metropolitan area, since I recall the Bensonhurst location for a post-high-school graduation meal. I remember that graduation as quite the accomplishment.

Jahn’s is most celebrated for its Kitchen Sink sundae, which is large enough to serve six.

One — and only one — Jahn’s location remains: 81-04 37th Avenue in Jackson Heights. A Richmond Hill Jahn’s on Hillside Avenue near Myrtle remained in business until 2007. Unfortunately this Jahn’s does not contain the classic stained-glass fixtures and red leather seats that its Richmond Hill entry did — its interior is rather mundane. But the menu is still classic.

12/29/15

24 comments

Chris F December 29, 2015 - 1:15 pm

We used to have one in Eastchester, which was a magnet for all of lower Westchester. Remember fondly some fun times there.

And I remember an episode of Fernwood Tonight where Martin Mull was given a version of a Kitchen Sink – including brown sprinkles / jimmies to replicate whiskers in a man’s ‘Bathroom Sink’.

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Andy December 29, 2015 - 1:51 pm

In my college days, late 60s, I frequented the Jahn’s in the Fordham section of The Bronx, located on Kingsbridge Road just west of Fordham Road. Don’t know when it closed, but it was long ago. I do remember Frank Jahn’s name displayed in the front. And one time a bunch of us did order the kitchen sink!

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LC December 29, 2015 - 3:44 pm

OMG the Jahn’s in Union NJ was our classic ice cream parlor growing up in the 60’s and 70’s. I even had my wedding shower there just before they closed in 1987. I had no idea there were other locations, and could never find any information on their history back in the pre internet dark ages.
Thanks for this!

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Barry Rivadue December 30, 2015 - 10:31 am

Knew Jahns circa 1964 in East Meadow, NY. Best, and I mean BEST charcoal flamed hamburger ever in memory.

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Rick December 30, 2015 - 12:05 pm

My father built the Jahn’s in NJ, it was in Paramus I think, and knew Frank Jahn. We went there often as kids in the 1960s.

You got a free sundae on your birthday as a policy of theirs.

On my somewhat attitude altered 18th birthday my friends and I walked from the West Village to the Battery then up to the Bronx Botanical Gardens. Stumbled on the Fordham Road location, but I had no ID to show it was my birthday.

Cool website, stumbled onto it researching old Brooklyn rail lines.

Thanks

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Jan December 30, 2015 - 12:54 pm

Jahn’s (in Fordham for me) was a special place to go, especially on birthdays (free sunday!). I remember taking my future wife there on a date before the place closed in the 70s A few years ago I visited the Jackson Heights location with my son (on my birthday no less) so he could experience a taste of his parents’ past. Hopefully the last parlor hangs on for years creating new memories for many.

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Billy Florio December 30, 2015 - 2:03 pm

I remember going to the one in Rockville Centre when I was a little kid.

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Jeff B. December 31, 2015 - 12:29 am

The Fair Lawn, NJ Jahn’s was the one I frequented during the 70’s and 80’s. All of the waiters and waitresses were pros! Old timers who took your order without writing it down – and put the right ice cream concoction in front of the right person despite a table of 5, 6 or more all changing seats. Our favorite waiter was Marty. He would tell us high school kids “dirty” jokes and make some really “interesting” sundaes that always generated lots of laughs!

Kevin – Have a Happy, Safe and Healthy New Year! Thanks for giving us your amazing site.

– Jeff

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Beatrice Rothman December 31, 2015 - 4:03 pm

My husband’s father owned a Jahn’s in New York (think it was in Brooklyn). I went there in the 70’s regularly with my sister and was probably served by him. We met in 1986 and got married. He always told me the greatest and funniest stories about his time as a waiter in his father’s restaurant.

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Billy G December 31, 2015 - 10:00 pm

.
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Friend lives in the apartment building above.

Was in this one dozens of times.

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brian January 8, 2016 - 11:00 pm

what floor and what years? i was really good friends with a family of ecuadorians that lived above the jahns, the entrance to the stairs for the apartment was in the little foyer before entering the restaurant. i still go every year for my sundae, and so doe sthe rest of my family.

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Larry January 1, 2016 - 10:06 pm

There was a Jahn’s on Flatbush Ave across from the Loew’s Kings in Flatbush and a great date night place after a movie…

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steve January 1, 2016 - 11:06 pm

There were quite a few Jahn’s. I recall one on the north side of Queens Blvd near the Rego Park / Forest Hills border, a few blocks west of the Trylon Theater.

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Mark January 6, 2016 - 7:55 am

The Jahn’s in Jackson Heights had a policy – a free sundae on your birthday. I’m not sure if the others did as well.

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Anonymous December 31, 2017 - 8:39 am

My older brother took me and my younger brother there for ice cream after I got stitches (Jackson Heights) when I was about 10.. mmmm best ice cream ever!!!! Apparently it was my older brother’s spot!!! love himRIP

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Bob Powell March 8, 2018 - 8:18 pm

I played ball at St Mary’s in Woodside 1961 to 1969 baseball and basketball. after a game we would all share the kitchen sink both in Jackson Heights and Forest Hills
Kevin Mahoney was our coach and he would bring us there

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JEFF COSTIGAN April 21, 2018 - 9:42 am

USED TO GO TO THE JAHNS IN RICHMOND HILL ON HILLSIDE AVE A LOT. WENT THERE A LOT WHEN I WAS A KID WITH EITHER MY OLDER SISTER OR BROTHER. HAVE LUNCH FOLLOWED BY ICE CREAM. AFTER DISCHARGE FROM THE NAVY IN 1995, I RENTED AN APT. ABOUT 2 BLOCKS AWAY. WOULD GO THERE FOR DINNER, TAKE OUT & BRING IT BACK TO MY APT. WOULD GET A BACON CHEESEBURGER DELUXE TO GO AND A REESES PEANUT BUTTER CUP SUNDAE TO GO WITH PEANUT BUTTER SAUCE ON TOP. BEST BURGERS BACK THEN IN ALL OF QUEENS, IN MY OPINION!! SAD WHEN I HEARD IT CLOSED, DAMN SHAME. TOO BAD, OH WELL, THERE IS STILL ONE IN JACKSON HEIGHTS, NEVER BEEN THERE, WANT TO GO WITH MY WIFE ONE DAY TO CHECK IT OUT, NOT GONNA BE THE SAME LIKE THE ORIGINAL ONE IN RICHMOND HILL.

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JEFF COSTIGAN August 6, 2018 - 12:51 pm

WELL, STILL DID NOT MAKE IT TO THE JAHNS IN JACKSON HEIGHTS YET, BUT WILL VERY SOON. TALKING TO MY WIFE A FEW DAYS AGO ABOUT JAHNS IN RICHMOND HILL, BROUGHT UP ABOUT THERE WAS ONE IN JACKSON HEIGHTS, SHE EVEN SAID WE MUST GO THERE SOON, CANNOT WAIT, BACN CHEESEBURGER DELUXE FOLLOWED BY A SUNDAE. WILL BE GOING VERY SOON, WITHIN A DAY OR SO,CANNOT WAIT!!!!!!!!

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JEFF COSTIGAN March 7, 2019 - 12:29 pm

STILL NEVER MADE IT TO JAHNS IN JACKSON HEIGHTS, MUST GO SOON, SEE HOW THE FOOD IS. ALWAYS WENT TO THE ONE IN RICHMOND HILL, AS A KID & WHEN I WAS DISCHARGED FROM THE NAVY IN 1995, ALWAYS HAD A BACON CHEESEBURGER TO GO WITH A REESES PEANUT BUTTER CUP SUNDAE WITH PEANUT BUTTER SYRUP, EXCELLENT!! AND THE PRICE WAS GREAT. WISH THE ONE IN RICHMOND HILL WAS STILL OPEN, VERY SAD!! WILL BE HITTING JAHNS IN JACKSON HEIGHTS!! DOES ANY ONE KNOW IF THEY GIVE YOU A FREE SUNDAE ON YOU BIRTHDAY IF YOU SHOW YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE?? JUST WONDERING. PLEASE POST IF THEY DO, THANKS.

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JEFF COSTIGAN May 19, 2019 - 11:49 am

GOING TO THE JAHNS IN JACKSON HEIGHTS TODAY WITH MY WIFE, SHE SUGGESTED IT LAST NIGHT, BOTH FIRST TIMERS HERE, WONDERING HOW IT IS THERE, IF ANYTHING LIKE THE ONE THAT WAS IN RICHMOND HILL. GETTING MY STAPLE WHEN I GET THERE, BACON CHESEBURGER DELUX FOLLOWED BY A REESES PEANUT BUTTER CUP SUNDAE WITH PEANUT BUTTER SAUCE ON TOP. WILL POST ON HOW IT WENT AND WHAT IT WAS LIKE.

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JEFF COSTIGAN January 19, 2020 - 11:17 am

FINALLY MADE IT TO THE JAHNS IN JACKSON HEIGHTS, WIFE & I WERE HUNGRY, COULD NOT DECIDE WHAT TO EAT. WE DROVE AROUND A WHILE LOOKING FOR A DINER, THEN DROVE OVER THERE. I HAVE TO SAY I WAS DISSAPPOINTED, GUESS WAS SPOILED GROWING UP WITH THE ORIGINAL JAHNS IN RICHMOND HILL. THE PLACE JUST DIDNT FEEL LIKE A JAHNS, FOOD WAS NOT THE SAME, AS WAS THE WAIT STAFF. GOING BACK AGAIN SOON, ORDER SOMETHING BESIDES A BURGER, MAYBE A TRIPLE DECKER SANDWICH, SEE HOW THAT COMPARES TO THE ONE IN RICHMOND HILL.

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JEFF COSTIGAN January 5, 2021 - 8:17 am

TOO DAMN BAD THERE IS ONLY ONE JAHNS LEFT!! LOVED THE ONE IN RICHMOND HILL, WENT THERE A LOT AS A KID. WISH SOME ONE WOULD RE OPEN ONE AGAIN, I THINK THEY CLOSE NOT FOR LACK OF BUSINESS, I THINK THE OWNERS JUST DONT MANAGE IT RIGHT.

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JEFF COSTIGAN March 7, 2021 - 2:51 am

CANNOT WAIT TO GO BACK TO JAHNS!! HAVE NO IDEA IF THEY HAVE DINING IN YET WITH THIS CORONAVIRUS CRAP GOING ON. MOST PLACES HAVE DELIVERY, TAKE OUT OR SIT UNDER A TENT OUTSIDE TO EAT. WANT NONE OF THAT, WANT TO COME IN WITH MY WIFE, SIT DOWN AND ENJOY MY LUNCH OR DINNER. HOPE THEY HAVE DINING IN NOW, EVEN AT REDUCED CAPACITY IS BETTER THAN NOTHING!! TOO BAD THEY DONT HAVE A WEB SITE, WOULD EMAIL THEM TO ASK THIS. IF THEY DO HAVE A SITE, PLEASE POST HERE OR EMAIL ME. REALLY HOPE THEY ARE OPEN!!! JEFF COSTGAN.

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JEFF COSTIGAN. April 22, 2021 - 1:49 pm

FEEL LIKE GOING TO JAHNS IN JACKSO HEIGHTS, ONLY PROBLEM IS, I CALLED TO ASK, NO ANSWER, WANT TO KNOW IF THEY HAVE INDOOR DINING YET, WITH THIS CORONAVIRUS SHIT GOING ON, HAVE NO IDEA WHO IS OPEN FOR DINING IN. MOST PLACES OFFER DELIVERY, TAKE OUT OR SIT UNDER A TENT OUTSIDE TO EAT. WANT NONE OF THAT, WANT TO GO WITH MY WIFE, SIT DOWN & ENJOY MY LUNCH OR DINNER. WILL TRY CALLING AGAIN, PROBABLY NO LUCK, WHO KNOWS……………

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