Summer has been rough for many young Tucson restaurants. 4th Avenue Delicatessen, a deli which opened in the former Buddha’s Dog House space in August 2013, expressed the following on Facebook last Saturday morning on August 6:
“They say if you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.
Summertime on 4th Avenue is always slow, but this summer has been worse than I’ve seen in my three years in business. So bad that I’m considering shutting down the deli. It just isn’t financially sound at this point.
I love the deli and making food for you all but I’m literally working for free (and have been for some time) at this point and it’s unfair to my family to continue going down this road.
So this is my Hail Mary. If you like what we do and want to see 4th Ave Deli survive then make the trip down for the food….and bring a friend. Tell people about us. Help us make it through this rough time. There is a very real possibility it may not be around much longer.“
With over 140 shares through the business page and over 260 shares from owner Austin Count’s personal Facebook profile, Tucson listened. The next day, the 4th Ave Deli posted the following update on Facebook:
“Thank you so much for your support yesterday! We have completely sold out of hoagie rolls, turkey and roast beef!
Due to this, we will only be serving hot dogs and BLTs from noon to 5pm today!
Come get lunch on this beautiful Sunday! …and thanks again Tucson for showing up when we need you the most!“
“Tucson really came out to support us,” said Keegan Rider, night manager at the 4th Ave Deli. “We have a very supportive community here in Tucson on Fourth Ave.”
However, the rush ended once the weekend ended. Business today so far is only a bit busier than usual.
“We want things to bounce back and we think they will,” Rider said.
If you’ve never tried 4th Ave Deli, now’s the best time to try. They primarily offer sandwiches and hot dogs in a casual environment with prices ranging from $2.50 for a hot dog to $10 for one of the “belly buster” sandwiches.
4th Ave Deli stays open until 3 a.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, making it a convenient stop after a night of bar hopping. If you’re already a fan, be sure to continue supporting them before it’s too late.
4th Avenue Delicatessen is located at at 421 N. 4th Ave. Keep up with 4th Avenue Delicatessen on Facebook. For more information, visit 4thavedeli.com.
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Article written by:
Jackie Tran
More about JackieJackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the now-closed food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon Appétit, National Geographic, and the New York Times.
An adventurous foodie, he enjoys culinary experiences ranging from seasonal omakase to sloppily devouring green chili patty melts in his car afterhours. His favorite foods include aguachile, garlic noodles, and leftover fried chicken illuminated by the fridge light. His favorite drinks include morning micheladas, fireside imperial stouts, candle-lit negroni, and grassy mezcales.
Outside of food, he also loves playing musical instruments, karaoke, Tetris, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and petting Addie’s dog Spaghetti.
If you’d like to stalk him, visit his Instagram @jackie_tran_ or jackietran.com.
