Hymie Sckolnick, the man behind Beauty's, dies at 96

HymieSckolnick, owner and founder of the iconic Beauty's Luncheonette in the Plateau-Mont-Royal, diedpeacefully at home on Monday, according to Paperman & Sons funeral home. He was 96.

Sckolnickfirst bought the restaurant on the corner ofMont-Royal Avenueand Saint-Urbain Street with his wife Freda in 1942.

They renamed the place Beauty's in a tip-of-the-hat reference toSckolnick'sold bowling nickname.

Even after 75 years in business,Sckolnickwas known to show up every morning, helping run the operation and greeting customers from his perch at the counter with a welcoming smile.

• Hymie Sckolnick's friend HymiePolansky on As It Happens

"Beauty's has always been like family for me," said Montreal writerDaveMcGimpsey, who said he'd been frequenting the diner for the last 30 years.

"Hymie was always a kind person," he said, "It was a great comfort seeing him there."

McGimpsey described the place as "timeless," saying that despite it's come-as-you-are attitude, the restaurant still had a lineup every weekend morning for brunch.

"It's the very heartbeat of the neighbourhood," saidMcGimpsey.

The interior of Beauty's has a time-capsule charm to it, with memorabilia on the walls and a menu that hasn't changed much since Freda created the famousMish-Mash omelettethe only onein Montreal where you can get little pieces of hot dog mixed up with your eggs, saysMcGimpsey.

An iconic man

Hymie Polansky was a contemporary of Sckolnick and practically grew up at Beauty's, visiting the beloved eatery off and on overthe last 70 years.

"He was always a proud, iconic type of man," saidPolansky. "When you met him, he impressed you."

Polanskysaid Beauty's got its start when a local gambler agreed to sell the real estate to Sckolnick for $500 down, so long as he could keep his card games going on in the back.

The restaurant was about a third of the size it is today back then, and slowly,Sckolnick was able to build it up, buying out the bakery next door and expanding.

Polanskyrecalled once interaction with Sckolnickwhen a customer walked into Beauty's and ordered25 hot dogs all dressed and 12 cherry Cokes.

"And Hymie became very concerned about it," saidPolansky. "So he called The Herald. He was concerned the guy would get sick."

By the time the customer made it through half the order, he was bursting at the seams.

"By this time a crowd had gathered around," rememberedPolansky, now 82. "Someone asked him, 'how can you eat all this?' and the man replied: 'This? This is nothing.In Europe,Ieat half a horse.'"

The family business

The restaurant remains in the Sckolnick family, as Hymie is survived by a number of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His wife Fredadied in 2008.

The family posted on Facebook Monday night, saying that "we will work hard to continue the family tradition and make Hymie proud."

The funeral service will be held Wednesday, Nov.29at 11:00 a.m. at Paperman& Sons,3888 Jean Talon StreetWest. Beauty's Luncheonette will be closed that day.

The family is asking people wishing to make a memorial donation to direct it to the Jewish General Hospital.