NY knish factory fire leads to shortage

COPIAGUE, N.Y. –A fire at a factory billed as the world’s biggest maker of knishes has created nationwide shock and oy for those who can’t seem to find the Jewish treats anywhere.

Kvetching has been going on at delis, diners, food carts and groceries since the 6-week-long shortage began, but lovers of the square, fried, doughy pillows of pureed potatoes may not have to go without much longer. The factory promises an end to the knish crunch by Thanksgiving, which coincides with the start of Hanukkah.

“Our customers … are calling us saying they are literally searching supermarkets and stores and they’re all asking when we’ll be back,” said Stacey Ziskin Gabay, one of the owners of the 92-year-old Gabila’s Knishes, which sells about 15 million knishes a year.

A fire Sept. 24 at the Gabila’s plant in Copiague, on Long Island, damaged the machinery that makes the company’s biggest seller – “The Original Coney Island Square Knish,” which also come filled with kasha or spinach.

Gabila’s, which also makes matzoh balls, blintzes and latkas, sells the knishes both online and at retail outlets around the country, with New York, Florida and California leading the sales.