Owners of the
Cherry Deli are taking their successful restaurant model to Grand Rapids' West Side to become the first business in Bob Israels' Enterprise Building – The 4th Street Deli.
Scott Schulz, a former executive chef of
Bobarino’s, and his wife
Suzanne Schulz, planning director for the city of Grand Rapids, opened the Cherry Deli, 834 Cherry SE, four years ago at the brink of the East Hills business district revitalization. Today the district is a thriving shopping and dining destination.
"We're hoping the same will happen with this area," says Scott. "There are some great buildings that could house some cool shops."
The two-story building is on a former
brownfield. Renovation of the entire building is underway by developer Bob Israels who has renovated several adjacent properties.
"He approached us on some of the things he has going in the building and wanted some place to offer soups and salads," Scott says. "After the Arnie's building and Little Mexico both burned down, the options for lunch for people who work around here are pretty limited."
Chef Scott will bring his culinary expertise to the new deli at 528 4th Street, but says the atmosphere and menu will be different from Cherry Deli to "get away from that chain restaurant feeling."
The menu features 100 sandwiches, 20 soups and 20 salads – all from recipes created by Scott. He and Chris Sommerfeldt, general manager, have spent the last months gathering ideas at food shows.
”We sat down one day and started brainstorming and came up with 130 sandwiches," says Scott. "Now we have to weed it down to 100."
The Schulz's added a full kitchen and a serving line. The space seats 55.
The deli opens in September.
Source: Scott and Suzanne Schulz, 4th Street Deli
Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].
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