By Rhonda Hoffman
The freshly baked bagels and breads are gone. So are the delicious danish and mouthwatering muffins and loaf cakes, the hand-sliced Nova lox and the white fish salad.
Steve Stein’s Famous Deli & Restaurant is officially history. Its final day of operation was Aug. 25.
That was the last day for the business that has been a mainstay in Northeast Philadelphia for more than six decades. From its opening on the 6800 block of Bustleton Ave. in the 1960s to its subsequent move to Krewstown Shopping Center to its final move to the Grant Shopping Plaza in 2012, Famous has endured the test of time and taste.
Reminiscing from a booth at the business’s 60-seat restaurant, Steve Stein, 83, the owner of Famous, said, “It’s bittersweet. Since I announced the closing earlier this summer, I’ve been flooded with hugs and tears from our many loyal customers.”
One of those loyal customers, Rich Weiss, was in the store last week to stock up on corned beef and pastrami, two family favorites. “My dad shopped here regularly and so did I,” said the 56-year-old Huntingdon Valley resident.
A more recent customer, Paula Prillman, who was stocking up on bagels, rye bread, hand-carved turkey and a variety of store-made salads, said, “I like to support local businesses and Famous was one of my favorites. I’m sorry to see it close.”
“It seems like we’re the last of the Mohicans in Northeast Philly as far as Jewish delis go, with Jack’s on Bustleton Avenue closing about a decade ago,” said Stein, a father of two, a grandfather of seven and a great-grandfather of two. His son, Lee, 57, has worked alongside his father for most of his life.
“I recall my first job at the store was cleaning up trash. We would throw stuff down the basement and I would sweep it up with a broom and shovel it into cardboard boxes and big trash bags. It was a nightmare, but I loved it,” said Lee Stein, who is considering opening another Jewish deli/restaurant in Bucks County.
Bagging the last of the produce in dollar bags at last week’s blow-out sale, Lee said, “It’s a very vigorous and demanding business with some days lasting from 6 a.m. to 10 or 11 p.m., but I feel healthy and ready to meet the challenge.”
On the final business day, Lee was wearing a black T-shirt with white printing that read, “From a nosh to a shmear, get it all here,” which was a winner in a contest sponsored by Famous to come up with an appropriate motto for the business. Another winning slogan was “FAMOUS: Professional Loxsmiths.” Prizes awarded included hoagie trays and other catered fare, according to Lee, who then graciously let his father have the parting words.
“The support of this community, along with our loyal employees, has been overwhelming. I’m not sure what comes next for me, but the memories will last a lifetime,” said Steve Stein, as he looked over to the deli counter as his 77-year-old cousin, Perry Stein, the longtime deli manager, sliced a pound of corned beef for one of the store’s last customers. ••
