The Smith & Wollensky steakhouse at Third Avenue and 49th Street began in 1977. There are now other restaurants in Boston, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Miami Beach, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC.

"If steak were a religion, this would be its cathedral" was first used in 1986 advertising and is still used by the restaurant today.

http://www.smithandwollensky.com/aboutUs.asp
The Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group develops, owns and operates high-end, high-volume restaurants in major cities across the United States. The original Smith & Wollensky, a traditional New York steakhouse, opened in 1977 and is currently the largest-grossing à la carte restaurant in the country. Since its inception, the company has grown to include 16 restaurants, including Smith & Wollensky in Miami Beach, Chicago, New Orleans, Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Columbus, Ohio, New York, Dallas, Houston, and Boston.

http://www.martin-rowe.com/a.php?id=64
A Brief Theology of Meat
Satya Magazine
September 1, 1995

A recent full-page ad in the New York Times for Smith & Wollensky ("the quintessential New York steakhouse") had the following byline. "If steak were a religion, this would be its cathedral." A friend of mine mentioned the ad to me, and we both expressed a certain wonderment—indeed puzzlement—about what the byline actually meant. Obviously, at a basic level, all the advertisers are saying is that this steakhouse is the best, a place of maximalism—respect, dedication, even sanctity. The twist is, perhaps, that potential customers would think, "C'mon, this is steak we're talking about here," but that they would go nonetheless—curious about a place where succor is offered and certainty conferred.

13 April 1986, New York Times, pg. SM87 ad:
If steak were a religion,
this would be its cathedral.
(...)
Smith & Wollensky.
The quintessential New York City steakhouse.
49th St. & 3 Ave. (212) 753-1530.

(Trademark)
Word Mark SMITH & WOLLENSKY
Goods and Services IC 043. US 100 101. G & S: Restaurant Services. FIRST USE: 19770900. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19770900
Standard Characters Claimed
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Design Search Code
Serial Number 78564991
Filing Date February 10, 2005
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition August 9, 2005
Registration Number 3011504
Registration Date November 1, 2005
Owner (REGISTRANT) St. James Associates DBA Smith & Wollensky Smith & Wollensky Operating Corp. and Chamblair Realty, Inc. both New York Corportions PARTNERSHIP NEW YORK 1114 First Avenue New York NEW YORK 10021
Attorney of Record Scott Greenberg, Esq.
Prior Registrations 1399014
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE

(Trademark)
Word Mark IF STEAK WERE A RELIGION,THIS WOULD BE ITS CATHEDRAL
Goods and Services IC 042. US 100. G & S: RESTAURANT SERVICES. FIRST USE: 19860600. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19860600
Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Design Search Code
Serial Number 73777747
Filing Date January 30, 1989
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition September 26, 1989
Registration Number 1572565
Registration Date December 19, 1989
Owner (REGISTRANT) ST. JAMES ASSOCIATES DBA SMITH & WOLLENSKY COMPOSED OF SMITH & WOLLENSKY OPERATING CORP. AND CHAMBLAIR REALTY, INC., BOTH ARE NEW YORK CORPORATIONS PARTNERSHIP NEW YORK C/O NEW YORK RESTAURANT GROUP, INC. 1114 FIRST AVENUE NEW YORK NEW YORK 10021
Assignment Recorded ASSIGNMENT RECORDED
Attorney of Record SCOTT GREENBERG
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Affidavit Text SECT 15. SECT 8 (6-YR). SECTION 8(10-YR) 20010116.
Renewal 1ST RENEWAL 20010116
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE

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