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State Street Stalwart, Italian Greek Deli Closes Saturday |
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By Melissa Evans
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Thursday, April 12 2007 |
The story of the Italian & Greek Deli on State Street is the story of the American dream.
 The deli sign. SBN
The story is coming to an end this weekend, when the deli -- a local favorite and hub of activity for tourists and business people alike -- closes its doors Saturday.
The ending is both happy and sad. *** WATCH THE VIDEO ***
The family has made enough money to lease the 5,000-square-foot space of prime real estate to Verizon, a stable cell phone company that will provide a steady stream of income to secure the Morosin family's future. The Verizon store will open in a few weeks.
It will be a sad farewell for customers, who say they will miss the subs and friendly service. And, in the wake of the closure of Jimmy's Oriental Gardens and Pascual's and the relocation of Mel's bar, they lament the loss of another piece of Santa Barbara's past.
"I think all this change is damaging Santa Barbara," said Rene Lehne, a longtime customer who enjoyed a final meal at the deli this week. "It's not the same anymore, and there's no going back."
The deli, located on the corner of State and Ortega streets, certainly has a unique charm. It's a bit chaotic -- apron-clad workers scribble orders that are called out by customers who mingle on the other side of the counter; the beeping of the cash register never seems to cease.
The exposed brick on the walls, the red-and-white checkered linens and rickety tables give the place an old-time feel.
It's a refreshing reprieve from the upscale retail stores and lavish specialty shops that have become more the norm on swanky State Street. Rents have skyrocketed over the years.
Johnny Morosin, the son of immigrants who has managed the deli along with his family for the last 17 years, said they kept looking at their financial numbers each month and realized it was time.
 A cell phone store to replace the longtime State Street eatery. Photo by Lew Marklin Mash / SBN
Morosin's parents considered shutting the doors of the deli several years ago. The son Johnny, now 44, decided that wasn't going to happen.
He quit his corporate job working for the Good Guys in San Francisco and moved to Santa Barbara to take over. As a child he had swore never to follow in the footsteps of his parents, but realized Santa Barbara was a great place to raise kids and run a business.
The city was much different then; Johnny was 9 when the deli opened. Richard Nixon was president, and the Vietnam war was raging.
Times have certainly changed.
 The deli, located on the corner of State and Ortega streets, has a unique charm. Photo by Melissa Evans/SBN
Santa Barbara native Eddie Chavez said the street below Ortega was relatively barren at the time. He was the second customer in line at the deli when the doors opened in 1971.
"I've been coming here ever since," he said. "They have the best meatball marinara I've ever tasted.
"It's nice when you walk into a place and they know you and you know them, and you don't even have to give your order. They already know what you want. I'll miss that."
The doors will officially close on Saturday. Some improvements will be made to the old building, but the new lessees are expected to move in soon.
Steve Cushman, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, said Santa Barbara has been changing for many years. He doesn't blame the owners for closing down.
"It's tough work running a restaurant," he said. "At some point you got to say, 'enough is enough.' "
Morosin said he, too, will miss the interaction with customers and the hustle of State Street.
"I'll miss seeing the children who are now adults, the adults who are now grandparents come through here," he said. "It's been great for me and my family, but it's time to move on."
Contact Melissa Evans at
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