Cultural Obituary-UPDATED

We had held out hope that perhaps Mr. Mike Genkin would make a glorious comeback to the homestead, but alas, it does not seem to be. It is with a heavy heart I am call this one. The Roxy Sandwich Grill is up for sale: of course, most people who read the news know it has been on the market since at least March. This June, the above sign went onto the window. With the opening of the new SuperFresh, a new sign went on the door. "Turnkey operation for sale." So we know the death rattle has sounded.

It is also an inauspicious occasion considering that Genkin was the last original business left in the Ivyridge Shopping Center. His Roxy Grill was the reinvention of a business started by his grandfather on Ridge Ave. That building has since been torn down and replaced with the new Roxborough Commons. The family business has been a part of the shopping center since 1964. It was in fact the first place this reporter ever applied to for a job. (We, of course, were so wet behind the ears then we didn't get the job.) The grill was also a weekly destination for some friends and I. Munching on the seasonal sliced Elephant, which had a season so small everyone slept through it. We did what we could to promote his place, giving word of mouth, page three placements for news releases (which got me reprimanded) among other things.

The current Genkin changed gears in his stores direction because his thought he couldn't compete against the might of the new SuperFresh. It may have been this flaw that destroyed him. But who could have predicted that it would take almost three years to open a new anchor store in Ivyridge.

We also understand that Mike may be fighting a battle greater than war his ancestor ever faced. We hope that he knows he has our support and we hope the best for his and his family's future.

Genkin, where am I to go for lunch now?

UPDATE-We also forgot to mention that Mike was very connected to our area in another way. He was a patron of the Arts, displaying artwork from members of the Manayunk Art Center. Now the store is shut, why hasn't the art been taken down yet?