Shop Seinfeld made famous opens franchise in Princeton
By: Marjorie Censer
The Original Soup Man may be based on Al Yeganeh of Soup Kitchen International the "Soup Nazi" featured on the television show "Seinfeld" but the owners of the Princeton franchise, Lisa and Scott Ruddy, say the store generally stays away from making show references.
But last week, one woman speaking on her cell phone while preparing to order said into her phone, "I’ve got to get going or I’m going to get a ‘No soup for you!’" referring to the Soup Nazi’s response to Jerry Seinfeld and his friends on the television show. Mr. Ruddy jokingly yelled, "No soup for you!"
The show may have garnered some interest in the store, which opened Oct. 24 in Palmer Square at the corner of Hulfish Street and Palmer Square East, but Mr. Ruddy said taste might have more to do with it. Many customers bought the soup in New York, he said, and are flocking to the new shop.
The franchise is the first in the country of what will be a national chain. Additional stores are slated for New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and Canada. Ms. Ruddy said the franchise calls them "the pioneers."
Not only are the Ruddys, who live in South Brunswick, pioneering the franchise, but they’re breaking ground for themselves. This is the first time either of them has owned a food establishment.
Ms. Ruddy has been home with the couple’s three children ages 9, 7 and 4 for several years and previously worked in a management position at Nordstrom. Mr. Ruddy has owned a sheet metal business in the Bronx, N.Y., for 12 years.
Working in the Bronx, Mr. Ruddy would often venture over to the Manhattan Soup Kitchen International, which opened in 1984 and was made famous by "Seinfeld" in 1995. When he saw a sign offering franchise opportunities, he jumped at the chance.
Since opening nearly two weeks ago, the store has been almost constantly busy, the Ruddys said. On Saturday, customers lined up outside the store at 10:30 a.m. to buy soup for tailgating before a football game. Princeton University students, too, have been patronizing the store, Ms. Ruddy said.
For the pair, juggling family life and a food establishment has proved challenging.
"With a retail business, you’re here all the time," Mr. Ruddy said.
But their three children are excited about the new store, Ms. Ruddy said. In fact, she already has requests from her two oldest children to provide soup for their school classes.
The store is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. There are 40 possible soup varieties, and the store offers between seven and nine daily. Generally, two or three are vegetarian, two or three contain meat and two are seafood. Prices range from $4.95 to $9.95 for an eight-ounce cup of soup, and all soups are served with bread, fruit and chocolate. The store also offers panini sandwiches and salads.
Soups are not made on location they are heated. The sandwiches, salads and fruits are fresh, Ms. Ruddy said.
The store was a hit before it even opened, Mr. Ruddy said. When they set up a booth at Palmer Square’s JazzFeast in September, the Ruddys sold 90 gallons of soup.
The two said the bisques have been popular, as well as the chili. Though people may tire of particular flavors, Mr. Ruddy said he doesn’t see soup getting old.
"Soup is a good alternative," he said. "There’s something new every day."
Ms. Ruddy said she feels they have filled a niche in Princeton offering healthy, quick meals in the center of town. Vegetarians in particular have flocked to the shop, she said.
"It’s just a perfect fit for Princeton," Ms. Ruddy said. "They wanted something different."

