Stanley Zabar, co-owner of NYC's iconic Zabar's, dies at age 94

Stanley Zabar, one of the owners of New York City's iconic Zabar's, died Monday at age 94.

Zabar and his brother Saul, who died last year, inherited the business from their parents. It grew from a small fish counter and deli into an Upper West Side institution.

Stanley Zabar was there just last week, making sure everything was up to his high standard, his family says.

"It feels really bittersweet. I just said to my cousin that walking into the store made me feel like I was close to him. My dad was a remarkable man," daughter Sandy Zabar said.

"Very much a family person for his children, his grandchildren, and also that extended to the customers. He really wanted to take care of customers and make people happy," son David Zabar said.

Loyal shoppers say it's that attention to detail that built up their reputation.

"This little nothing, Zabar's, which was the place to buy on a Sunday, became humongous," customer Floyd Eden said.

"I buy my lox here a lot, and I never have to tell the guys to cut it thin. They just know it by habit," customer Louis Lindenberg said.

"I used to say that my district ran from the gay bars to Zabar's, and that kind of sums up the West Side and I think that's emblematic of what Stanley and Saul built here," Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal said.  

A lawyer, bookkeeper and a master of all things sliced, smoked and salted, Stanley Zabar and his brother kept it a family business by treating others like family, too.

"Anyone that walked in here from 1950 onwards probably saw one of them or spoke to one of them," David Zabar said.

The family says that spirit will never go away.

"We miss the older generation, but we know we've learned a lot from them," David Zabar said.

Stanley Zabar's funeral will be held Wednesday at Riverside Memorial Chapel.