Hold the Cheese

Zabib Takes Time Out For Students

Past midnight, during finals week of last semester, after other eateries had long since closed, a lone pizza store on Amsterdam Avenue kept its doors open. The pizzeria was Time Out, owned by Shalom Zabib, and it stayed open until 2 a.m., way past moneymaking hours. The reason why Time Out was open: to accommodate students who were cramming for finals. Last year, Shalom Zabib’s son had kept Time Out open all night to accommodate students during finals, but this year, with his son away, Shalom could only manage to keep it open until 2 a.m.

Zabib’s restaurant, Time Out, has had a long history of serving kosher food on campus, dating back to, at least, the 1940’s. Judah the librarian, an individual familiar with the minutiae of YU trivia, recalled the wonderful milieu of the restaurant in the late 40’s, early 50’s. At that time, a Chinese chef, skilled in the culinary arts, served "absolutely stupendous take-out," according to Judah.

After the demise of the Chinese chef, Sid and George moved in. According to another long time YUer (this one preferred to remain anonymous), Sid and George sponsored penurious bargains, such as "2 eggs on 2 rolls," and "noodles and cheese to please." This man, reminiscing, also recalled that Sid and George served "moiridikah" (incredible) chocolate milk and a fantastic drink called the "cherry-lime-rickey."

After Sid and George came Mermelstein, and after Mermelstein came . . . and after him came Rollie and Asher, and after Rawley and Asher came Shalom. In the interim between when the Chinese cook served "stupendous take-out" and the present time, the restaurant has changed its name many times. Among other names, it has been called, "The Greasy Spoon," "Tam Tov," "Tov Meod," "Cum-In-Es," and "King David."

Despite its long history, it is doubtful whether the store has ever been open past midnight, as it was during finals. Shalom, in an exclusive interview with The Commentator, explained why he has kept his store open during finals; his reason is truly remarkable.

"I can’t just take, I have to give back," Shalom declared. "This is a community pizza store, and I serve the people with all their needs. Even if the students just want to study in the store, they are welcome."

Shalom went on to enumerate what he felt had been his many manifestations of community service. He said, "I am open Friday till 2 -- please don’t come at 2: 30. I am open Saturday night, and I am open Thanksgiving and Christmas." At these times, Shalom does not turn a profit, but he stays open for the community nevertheless. Shalom added, "Many come and cash checks; many come to me for mechanic . . . we try to do the best we can -- in two-and-a-half years, no poisoning!"

Shalom Zabib’s promotional stunt, staying open all night for the students’ benefit, is all the more remarkable because it is totally altruistic. The YU student only has limited options for food. With the Yum Yum Shoppe closed down, if the student is not eating dainty cafeteria delicacies, he can either go to Time Out, or wait 30 minutes for a hot-dog, while watching a repetitive video, in the fleishig restaurant next door. (The video is free!)

Even though Shalom Zabib does not provide a video to entertain his customers at Time Out, he did note that there are other forms for entertainment in his restaurant: the MTA students. These students provide Shalom with his biggest headaches and thrills. On his very first day of owning the restaurant, Shalom took a pepper shaker and turned it over to add a little spice to his pizza, but, instead of spilling out a little, the pepper shaker spilled the whole container full of pepper out onto his pizza. Someone had unscrewed the lid of the pepper container. As Shalom was soon to learn, this was a popular prank of the high school students. Referring to the students, he said, " I caught a few, and I warned them: if you don’t want to eat, don’t destroy the food. They did it again. I told the rabbi. So then they get suspended and they come crying to me. And then I have to speak to the rabbi again."

There have also been cases of high school seniors having ketchup fights in Time Out, and other students have engaged in what Shalom, with a grin, euphemistically termed, "transferring ownership without payment." In other words, stealing by certain students is a significant problem. In one episode, after a conscientious student returned from Israel, he went to Time Out and handed Shalom a 50-dollar bill. This student, in the past, had actively engaged in "transfers of ownership without payment," and now he wished to pay for his past peccadilloes.

Through it all, Shalom maintains a happy smile. He said, "I love all the students and I am here to help. Money is not the only thing in life – the lotto would help, but there is nothing that we’re looking for."

Before finishing speaking, however, Shalom added, "Please send this message to the MTA students: "Try to clean mess; although it is a restaurant, if they have to rush to class it is acceptable – if they have to rush to video room, it’s not."

With his gentle-hearted and warm nature, Shalom has encouraged students to eat at Time Out. However, for many college students at YU, it is only the food of a restaurant, not the ambiance, that is important. Opinion on the quality of Time Out food varied from student to student, as some thought it good, others not so good. Yet for one student, it is neither the food, nor the ambiance that leads him to buy at Time Out. He said, "I go to Time Out to see Wanda (the waitress). She is number one in my book."