bout a decade ago, Al Yeganeh, a surly New York City soup seller, gained global fame when he inspired a character on the hit TV sitcom "Seinfeld." Now, the notorious chef -- known for chewing out some customers and refusing to serve others -- is taking his own show on the road.
Later this year, the real-life "Soup Nazi" will begin selling his legendary bisques, chowders and gumbos at franchised locations throughout the country -- but with one missing ingredient: Mr. Yeganeh plans to bar the franchisees from using the term "Soup Nazi" in their promotional materials. In fact, he doesn't want his simmering soup empire to have any overt association with the show that helped make him famous. Tie-ins with "Seinfeld" will be "strongly discouraged" among franchisees, the company says.
For all the attention and business that the "Seinfeld" publicity has brought him, Mr. Yeganeh is not exactly grateful -- in fact he says he loathes the show's star. He refers to Jerry Seinfeld as "Jerry the Clown," and insists that it was he who helped make Mr. Seinfeld what he is today. The source of the friction is the nickname that the show made famous, the "Soup Nazi," which he says is offensive.
http://online.wsj.com/article_email/0,,SB109476371766313930-H9jfYNplaN3m5ypZHSHbqWHm4,00.html
Later this year, the real-life "Soup Nazi" will begin selling his legendary bisques, chowders and gumbos at franchised locations throughout the country -- but with one missing ingredient: Mr. Yeganeh plans to bar the franchisees from using the term "Soup Nazi" in their promotional materials. In fact, he doesn't want his simmering soup empire to have any overt association with the show that helped make him famous. Tie-ins with "Seinfeld" will be "strongly discouraged" among franchisees, the company says.
For all the attention and business that the "Seinfeld" publicity has brought him, Mr. Yeganeh is not exactly grateful -- in fact he says he loathes the show's star. He refers to Jerry Seinfeld as "Jerry the Clown," and insists that it was he who helped make Mr. Seinfeld what he is today. The source of the friction is the nickname that the show made famous, the "Soup Nazi," which he says is offensive.
http://online.wsj.com/article_email/0,,SB109476371766313930-H9jfYNplaN3m5ypZHSHbqWHm4,00.html
