A Korean-owned deli in New York City received an emotional Broadway sendoff after nearly 40 years in business: "I didn't realize that our store was beloved"
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- Husband and wife Jung Min Kim and Jahee Kim opened Starlite Deli when they moved to New York City from South Korea in the 1980s.
- Due to its proximity to legendary theaters, the deli became a beloved staple of the Broadway community.
- A viral TikTok showed a crowd of longtime customers singing the owners farewell after they announced their retirement.
When Starlite Deli first opened their doors in New York City's theater district in 1984, store owners Jung Min Kim and Jahee Kim had no idea how cherished their business would become by the Broadway community.
"When we started, we weren't familiar with Broadway shows at all," the couple told NBC News. "Now, we're fans."
After nearly four decades in business, the couple made the decision to retire. In a now-viral TikTok, a crowd of Starlite's biggest fans stopped by the restaurant to give the deli a proper farewell, singing Roy Rogers' "Happy Trails." The customers also pooled together to raise money for the Kims, and delivered them a check for $17,839 as a retirement present. "My heart became heavy. I was so overwhelmed. I was so thankful," Jahee told NBC.
The couple moved to New York from Seoul in the 1980s. Jung Min opened Starlite in 1984. For the past 39 years, he has woken up every day at 4:30 am to run the deli. Now, at 71, he's ready to retire.
"I worked really hard before, but I just can't do the same. I tried saving my business, too, but no one was willing to take over my deli. So I just decided to retire. Now, Dunkin' Donuts is going to replace our shop," he told NBC.
Neighbors to iconic theaters like the Broadhurst and the Hayes, Starlite became a staple to the Broadway community, serving a wide range of Broadway's cast and characters. The couple recalls serving recognizable patrons, including Sir Ian McKellen, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Ralph Fiennes.
"I didn't realize that our store was beloved," Kim told NBC.
Many TikTok viewers commented on the emotional farewell. "This is what the heart of New York is all about," one commenter wrote. "That's the American dream. This is what America is supposed to me," another wrote.
The Kims represent a long line of immigrant-run businesses that keep New York afloat. Immigrants are more than twice as likely to start a business in New York City, and they own almost half of the city's small businesses.
In the future, the couple looks forward to rest and retirement. "To be honest, he's worked so much, from early morning to late at night — and I'm happy he won't have to do that anymore," Jahee Kim told NBC. "We're free now. My husband can rest and we can be free together."