People’s tastes change over time, which is one of the major reasons why many popular American Jewish delis have been forced to permanently close their doors. Jewish delis are not exclusive to New York City as many people might believe; many Jewish delicatessens offer exceptional food items throughout the country.
Nevertheless, as the cost of ingredients rises, rent rates increase, people become more health conscious, and Jewish traditions are seldom passed on to the next generations all over the USA, Jewish delis have begun to close in major cities of the country.
According to Ted Merwin (the author of Pastrami on Rye: An Overstuffed History of the Jewish Deli), New York City, which used to be home to more than 1500 delis in the early 20th century, only has about 20 delicatessens left in the region.
Many other professional food enthusiasts have noted the decline of the classic deli and have urged the public to sustain and support the traditional institute. David Saxe’s travelogue Save the Deli, and Erik Anjou’s documentary, Deli Man, both focus on the dwindling number of delis in the country.
Why Are Jewish Delis Disappearing?
There are a lot of reasons that can be attributed to the closing of decade-old delicatessens. Some of them are:
Rising Meat and Ingredient Prices
Many deli owners will agree that they are struggling to keep up with the price of the meat and deliver quality products. Meat prices have been rising globally and are estimated to have increased by almost 60% during the pandemic.
This rise has caused deli owners to take some cuts of meat off their menu as global demand for premium, grass-fed cuts increases, and droughts have decreased supply.
Difficulties in Attracting New and Younger Customers
People who aren’t aware of the brining, smoking, and curing process of pastrami or the intensive preparation that goes on for the creation of other Jewish deli meats just can’t justify spending $15 to $20 on a sandwich.
Moreover, people have become more conscious of the type of food they eat and prefer something healthier than stacked meaty sandwiches with concerningly high sodium content.
Many deli owners have had to introduce unconventional vegetarian and vegan options to their younger clientele to appeal to their tastes.
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Declining Kosher Observances
Kosher observances have drastically declined in the United States of America as Judaism outgrows its laws in the region. In the early 20th century, between 1914 and 1924, almost 30% of Jews were estimated to have stopped keeping kosher.
In the 1960s, only 300 Kosher and Glatt Kosher delis were left in New York City.
High Rent Prices
Aside from the greater meat prices and dwindling popularity of Jewish delis, a crucial factor that has been the reason behind the fall of Jewish delis is high rent.
Many Jewish delis in Los Angeles have succumbed to the high rent prices and closed their doors permanently. For example, Woodland Hills Jerry’s Famous Deli was a popular deli with a great estate of 7200 square feet. The cost of the space and having 600 items on the menu was taxing for the owners, and the company closed in 2016 since it failed to keep up.
The Effects of the Pandemic
The pandemic was incredibly harsh to the Jewish deli businesses as Manny’s Cafeteria & Delicatessen from Chicago reports that the number of customers per day went from 1000 to 50 during that time. The deli only survived due to the smart decision of the owner to opt for long-distance deliveries, which helped keep the business afloat.
Since many delis haven’t upgraded their menus or updated their business methods since their inception to keep things authentic, various delis struggled greatly to adapt to the pandemic’s new challenges.
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List of Famous Jewish Delis That Have Closed
There have been a variety of famous delis that have closed permanently in the past decade alone. With their closure, the decades-old worth of culinary knowledge, expertise, and skill have also been lost.
Stage Deli
Situated on 7th Avenue, New York City, Stage Deli closed on November 29th, 2012. It had been open to customers since 1937 and was known by locals and tourists for its massive sandwiches and Jewish deli foods.
Carnegie Deli
Carnegie Deli, situated on 7th Avenue, New York City, closed its doors on December 31st, 2016. It was famous for its high pastrami sandwiches, corned beef, cheesecakes, and rugelach.
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Jerry’s Famous Deli
Jerry’s Famous Deli permanently closed its doors on October 30th, 2020, after serving delicious sandwiches and meats to customers for around 42 years. The deli closed as it could not sustain itself in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ben’s Best Deli
Ben’s Best Deli closed on June 30th, 2018, after serving customers for almost 73 years. The deli was situated on Queens Blvd.
Greenblatt’s Deli
Greenblatt’s Deli officially closed its doors for service on August 11th, 2021, after serving customers for 95 years. The reason for its closure was attributed to staffing problems and business struggles.
Label’s Table
The famous deli in Los Angeles closed permanently at the start of January 2021. The building occupied by the business was set to be demolished, and many delis were struggling to draw customers during the pandemic.
Disappearing Jewish Delis of New York City
Back in the day, there were about 1,500 Jewish delis around New York City. Today there are only about 20 surviving Jewish delis.
So why can’t a place that serves great food with awesome personality survive in a city that embraces both of those things?
Summary
Jewish delis are a crucial part of American Jewish culture that have contributed to iconic pop culture moments like “I’ll have what she’s having!” and the quintessential pastrami sandwich.
Closing these classic culinary institutes is like losing a part of history, but with the increased cost of ingredients, high rent prices, changing consumer appetites, and the state of the economy, this change is inevitable.
Unless major changes and tweaks are made to the menus and business itself, the number of Jewish delis will continue to dwindle, and beloved eateries will become lost in the pages of history.
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My name is Jay and I started this website to share my love of Deli Food. I am Jewish with Italian ancestry and grandparents who emigrated to the US from Poland, Russia and Turkey. This website is my celebration of the delicious flavors of international deli culture. Please feel free to send me your suggestions and feedback through the contact form.
