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Viva Las Jerusalem
The King was alive and well — and multiplying — today at the Elvis American Diner outside Jerusalem.
By late afternoon, 10 Israeli Elvis impersonators had flocked to the restaurant to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death. Old and young, hailing originally from Russia and Iran, they sang the praises of the musical icon.
The tunes were sometimes out of key. Some were downright dreadful. But they all came from the heart.
Joseph Rozen and his wife Rozidka were the oldest impersonators of the group. Both were sporting white-spangled jumpsuits of the Elvis Vegas era.
Joseph, who has been to Graceland twice, bought his from a store at the Memphis shrine, shelling out $1,400 to be able to say he has an exact replica of the one the King wore.
Rozen, who comes from the southern town of Beersheva, sells vitamins during the day. “But that’s just for money. What I really live for is Elvis,” he said.
The menu at the Elvis diner starts with the “All Shook Up” breakfast, consisting of an Israeli favorite of fried eggs in a spicy tomato sauce, and includes a “Tupelo Kid” children’s menu. The owner of the diner, Uri Yoeli, also offers a grilled cheeseburger that he says is based on the same recipe used by Elvis’ favorite diner in Memphis.
Given this sublimely greasy fare, it’s surprising that the diner’s best selling souvenir is the $10 Elvis wine that Yoeli bottled specially for the 30th anniversary.
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