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Saturday was last day of business for Sallome's Italian Deli

By Howard B. Owens

Sallome's Italian Deil announced today that it is closing -- for good.

Saturday was its last day of business.

Owners Stephen and Penny Sallome said efforts to sell the deli over the past year were unsuccessful and the amount of work to run a food-service business was taking over their entire lives.

Sallome's will reimburse any gift certificates purchased prior to the closing.

A full statement following the jump:

Saturday, July 31st, 2010 Sallome’s Italian Deli has closed its doors permanently. We know that we are leaving many of our loyal customers extremely disappointed. However, this decision is what we feel is best for us and our family and we are truly sorry. It has been a very, very tough decision and we can only hope that most people will understand.

We began the process of purchasing the old “Betty’s Bridal Shop” in late 2007 after our youngest son graduated from high school and decided that it was the perfect time for us to fulfill my husband’s lifelong dream of having his own restaurant.

We fulfilled that dream when we opened in September 2008. When we reopened in August 2009 it was because it was advised to us that it would be easier to sell if it was open, so that’s what we did. Hoping that we would be able to sell it, or fall in love with it and not want to give it up. It’s been on the market for almost a year with only a few lookers.

The deli has brought us whole new respect for the “Mom and Pop” food-service establishments and the people who have chosen to do this their whole lives. It is extremely hard work, more than most people realize. With everything else that we have going on we just physically can’t keep up this pace. It is just too much.

We don’t wish to work our lives away. It has been a great journey and we have been fortunate enough to meet and employ some really great people. The business has grown tremendously and walking away is very difficult, however, we know that for us, it is the best thing to do.

We would like to make sure that for those who have gift certificates, including those purchased through The Batavian, that they get a refund. Simply mail the gift certificate along with name, address and phone number to the deli at 40 Oak St., Batavia, and we will send their refund directly to them.

If there is anyone who may be interested in either leasing or buying the deli property, we would love to talk to them. It’s a growing business, in a great location, with some really terrific food with a great deal of potential for the right person. Anyone interested in a fantastic business opportunity can reach Steve @ 585-356-3608.

Michael Tost

This just ruined my night....My absolute favorite place in Batavia to eat. Ken Mistletoe...You better make a mean sandwich!

Aug 1, 2010, 10:21pm Permalink
Steve Ognibene

Howard, I have a gift card I had not used yet. Is it too late? How can I get my money back? Would someone be there, or could you call them for me? What should I do?

Aug 1, 2010, 11:46pm Permalink
Paula Ferraro

This will not make my family happy. I wish there would have been some advance notice. I would have much rather used my gift certificate and gotten a tasty sub than get my money back.

Aug 2, 2010, 9:48am Permalink
Paul Cook

Went there once, got a chicken finger sub with chicken that was frozen in the middle, never went back. Too bad because it was in walking distance. Perhaps others had the same experience?

Aug 2, 2010, 12:15pm Permalink
George Richardson

When I was 16 my brother would buy me quarts of Utica Club beer there, for fifty cents. Call it Sallome's if you want to but it will always be Reinhart's to me.

Aug 2, 2010, 12:29pm Permalink

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