soupnazi.jpeg

He's more than happy to shout "NO SOUP FOR YOU!"

(Fred Meyer)

The Soup Nazi will be ladling up samples of soup at Portland's Hollywood Fred Meyer on February 27.

Of course, when I told a millennial reporter in the newsroom the exciting news, her response was: "The Soup Nazi?"

OK, it's no longer 1995.

For the uninitiated, the Soup Nazi was one of the most famous characters on "Seinfeld," a weekly sitcom that a few people watched in the 1990s.

Here he is, delivering his classic line.

Hoo-rah!

Gold, Jerry. Gold!

(Sorry, that's a different "Seinfeld" episode).

"Little did he know that appearance would make his life complete," said Diane Lilli, a spokeswoman for the Fred Meyer Soup Nazi appearance. "Imagine something like that setting you up for your entire life."

Sure, but why is he coming to Portland?

"To sell soup," Lilli said.

Well, duh.

Two decades after the legendary episode, actor Larry Thomas remains the face and pitchman for a premium soup company founded by Al Yeganeh.

Yeganeh, also known as "the original Soupman," ran a Manhattan storefront famous for 90-minute lines that inspired the "Seinfeld" episode. In fact, The New York Times called his creations "art, not soup." Now you can buy it in cans.

Lilli said Thomas will be serving up Chicken Noodle, Chicken Gumbo, Lobster Bisque and Crab and Corn chowder, among other flavors, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Fred Meyer located at 3030 NE Weidler St.

Given that he was a bit touchy about how people approached him on "Seinfeld," would it be better to call him Soup Nazi or Soup man?

"He couldn't care less," Lilli said.

Also, she said, he's more than happy to shout "NO SOUP FOR YOU!"

-- Joseph Rose

503-221-8029

jrose@oregonian.com

@josephjrose