PROVIDENCE, R.I. — After nearly a century of serving hot wieners and more in the Ocean State, iconic eatery Baba’s Original New York System is closing its doors today.
The longtime Smith Hill landmark, which opened at 424 Smith Street in 1927 and later adopted the name “Baba” in honor of the Toprak family patriarch, has confirmed its final day of service amid declining business and rising operating costs.
Owner, Taner “Baba” Toprak
Since its founding, Baba’s has held a special place in Rhode Island’s culinary landscape, offering the state’s signature weiner — topped “all-the-way” with mustard, meat sauce, chopped onions and celery salt. Don’t forget a coffee milk!
In recent years, the restaurant’s owner noted business had slowed significantly despite no clear external cause, and maintaining profitability in a tight-margin restaurant environment became increasingly difficult.
The closure marks the end of an era for the state’s hot-wiener scene. Patrons, longtime staff, and local food historians are visiting today to snag one last order.
Wow. I spent many late nights in there with Norm and the crew. So sad to see it go. End of an era. Really no reason to go on living any longer, right?