Grawemeyer's Deli on South Main hopes to open in mid-February
Have you noticed the apple-green paint and the repurposed front doors from the Orpheum? Grawemeyer's Deli at 520 South Main is heading toward a mid-February opening, promising downtown's historic arts district another choice for eating and drinking.
So says Steven Shipp, pictured here, who will be managing the front of the house for Grawemeyer's, named after Mark and Cynthia Grawemeyer, longtime downtowners who are rehabilitating the block of South Main one storefront at a time. The deli will offer a smoke-free setting for beer, wine, and food, with a full-service bar coming later. “We're calling it a deli, but nothing will be deep-fried,” Shipp said.
I met Shipp Friday when I had lunch with co-workers at Rizzos Diner, located around the corner from the deli and also owned by the Grawemeyers. (More on lunch later, but we loved the diner's classy comfort food.) Downtown folks might know Shipp from Felicia Suzanne. He joined the staff when the restaurant opened almost 10 years ago, working his way from bus boy to general manager.
For now, Shipp is working at Rizzos. It's been some time since I had service as friendly and efficient as Shipp's, so I'm excited that he will be taking care of customers when the deli opens next month. The menu looks promising too: healthy sandwiches, salads, and fresh-baked pastries in the morning, said Rizzos chef Michael Patrick. Pizza is also on tap, he said: “We need pizza on South Main. Nobody is really doing it.”
