BELOVED OWNER ROMAN KAPLAN OF 'RUSSIAN SAMOVAR' PASSES AWAY @ 84
Roman Kaplan With a heavy heart, Russian Samovar has announced their beloved owner Roman Kaplan has passed away at the age of 84. Roman’s daughter Vlada Von Shats and her family wants to thank everyone who has supported her father and the restaurant over the years during this tragic time. Roman opened the establishment in 1986. Then in 1987 friends, Legendary dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov and Nobel Award Winning poet Joseph Brodsky, joined Roman as his business partners. Russian Samovar is currently managed by Vlada and her two sons Michael and Nicholas. To this day, Russian Samovar attracts the bohemian Americans, Russian emigrants and tourists. This year, the restaurant celebrates its 35th anniversary. History of Russian Samovar: Russian Samovar's history predates the establishment itself. Samovar, formerly Jilly's Canteen and owned by Frank Sinatra's friend Jilly Rizzo, was the go-to hot spot for Sinatra and The Rat Pack. Roman decided to keep the original red banquettes