Mike Downs has more than 35 years of experience in restaurants, including stints at four-star properties in Germany and Switzerland. But he has owned The Grand Deli since July of 1987, and wouldn't think of being anywhere else.
“What better place than the Village of Carlsbad is there to own a business?” he asked. Mike presides over his delicatessen, which sits on the enviable corner of State and Grand Streets in the heart of the bustling Carlsbad Village. Trees shade the tables that perch peacefully on the sidewalk out front of his establishment, where relaxed regulars enjoy early-morning coffee and pastries, towering lunchtime sandwiches, and late-afternoon snacks and sodas. The Grand Deli has its share of devoted local patronage.
Mike's patrons are predominantly local, but he acknowledges that the beautiful Southern California summers bring in masses of visiting customers. “We get a huge barrage of tourists during the summer months,” he said. “Thank goodness Arizona is unbearably hot.”
When Mike took over the deli in the late 80s, it was a traditional New York deli. He remodeled the place, but some of the vintage New York photos still punctuate the walls. Currently, the Grand Deli is comfortably welcoming with an extensive menu that makes decision-making pleasantly difficult.
“I added a full breakfast menu with great coffee and espresso, our famous Health Nut French Toast and our bagels, which come in fresh daily,” Mike said. “I retained many of the sandwiches from the original menu, but of course added and tweaked things over the years due to demand and personal preference. I really pride myself on our reputation of serving consistently great food.”
The Grand Deli's sandwiches are legendary, and it is easy to see why. Intimidatingly stuffed with deli meats, cheeses, and crunchy, fresh vegetables, Mike's sandwiches are a conundrum: tough to finish, but impossible not to try. The Grand Turkey, The Manhattan and the Philly Steak Hoagie are a few of Mike's customers' favorites that have endured over the years, causing his legend to grow.
He has worked with the same core staff for nearly 10 years. Guillermo and Jesus are the core of the kitchen operation and handle huge work loads,” he said, indicating the shyly smiling men who pop out briefly from the kitchen. “Marge is the rock of the dining room. She doesn't stop moving — always productive and helpful with guest needs,” he said, indicating the never-still woman behind the high glass case.
Mike acknowledges that recently, the economic squeeze has motivated him to think outside his corner of the Village to better serve his clientele and get those famous sandwiches into the hands of working people all over Carlsbad. “The downturn has affected us all so expanding the business by delivering is paying off,” Mike said.
The Grand Deli now delivers business breakfasts and lunches to within a 10-mile radius of the Village. Mike will deliver breakfast and lunch orders seven days a week in the smart-looking delivery vehicle, distinctively festooned with The Grand Deli's colorful logo. “We need some notice for the deli platters, but we can be flexible,” he said, shrugging affably.
The delivery service has helped him bridge a difficult time when many restaurants and small businesses are struggling. “There have been tough years, especially lately,” he said. “But what I enjoy so much is the feedback from locals and tourists that tell me they are glad I am still here. Many of our out-of-state guests have returned for so many years that I have watched their kids grow from toddlers to college students.”
Mike's honest assessment of the restaurant business is liberally flavored with his obvious pleasure in a job well done. “The combination of maintaining guest satisfaction, controlling payroll and food cost and dealing with possible equipment failure can really snowball,” he admitted. “On the other hand I am surrounded by hard-working, loyal employees who are pleasant to be around. The real satisfaction of restaurant ownership comes from creating a pleasant environment that has many guests dining here five days a week.”
The recent Village Faire in the Carlsbad Village provided an inarguable testament to The Grand Deli's resilient appeal. Just outside Mike's door was the Faire's famous Food Court, featuring a boggling variety of mouth-watering fare, and yet, there was a solid line of customers at Mike's counter, snaking out the door and spilling out onto the sidewalk.
“Oh don't mind the line,” Mike said with a smile. “We're fast!”
“What better place than the Village of Carlsbad is there to own a business?” he asked. Mike presides over his delicatessen, which sits on the enviable corner of State and Grand Streets in the heart of the bustling Carlsbad Village. Trees shade the tables that perch peacefully on the sidewalk out front of his establishment, where relaxed regulars enjoy early-morning coffee and pastries, towering lunchtime sandwiches, and late-afternoon snacks and sodas. The Grand Deli has its share of devoted local patronage.
Mike's patrons are predominantly local, but he acknowledges that the beautiful Southern California summers bring in masses of visiting customers. “We get a huge barrage of tourists during the summer months,” he said. “Thank goodness Arizona is unbearably hot.”
When Mike took over the deli in the late 80s, it was a traditional New York deli. He remodeled the place, but some of the vintage New York photos still punctuate the walls. Currently, the Grand Deli is comfortably welcoming with an extensive menu that makes decision-making pleasantly difficult.
“I added a full breakfast menu with great coffee and espresso, our famous Health Nut French Toast and our bagels, which come in fresh daily,” Mike said. “I retained many of the sandwiches from the original menu, but of course added and tweaked things over the years due to demand and personal preference. I really pride myself on our reputation of serving consistently great food.”
The Grand Deli's sandwiches are legendary, and it is easy to see why. Intimidatingly stuffed with deli meats, cheeses, and crunchy, fresh vegetables, Mike's sandwiches are a conundrum: tough to finish, but impossible not to try. The Grand Turkey, The Manhattan and the Philly Steak Hoagie are a few of Mike's customers' favorites that have endured over the years, causing his legend to grow.
He has worked with the same core staff for nearly 10 years. Guillermo and Jesus are the core of the kitchen operation and handle huge work loads,” he said, indicating the shyly smiling men who pop out briefly from the kitchen. “Marge is the rock of the dining room. She doesn't stop moving — always productive and helpful with guest needs,” he said, indicating the never-still woman behind the high glass case.
Mike acknowledges that recently, the economic squeeze has motivated him to think outside his corner of the Village to better serve his clientele and get those famous sandwiches into the hands of working people all over Carlsbad. “The downturn has affected us all so expanding the business by delivering is paying off,” Mike said.
The Grand Deli now delivers business breakfasts and lunches to within a 10-mile radius of the Village. Mike will deliver breakfast and lunch orders seven days a week in the smart-looking delivery vehicle, distinctively festooned with The Grand Deli's colorful logo. “We need some notice for the deli platters, but we can be flexible,” he said, shrugging affably.
The delivery service has helped him bridge a difficult time when many restaurants and small businesses are struggling. “There have been tough years, especially lately,” he said. “But what I enjoy so much is the feedback from locals and tourists that tell me they are glad I am still here. Many of our out-of-state guests have returned for so many years that I have watched their kids grow from toddlers to college students.”
Mike's honest assessment of the restaurant business is liberally flavored with his obvious pleasure in a job well done. “The combination of maintaining guest satisfaction, controlling payroll and food cost and dealing with possible equipment failure can really snowball,” he admitted. “On the other hand I am surrounded by hard-working, loyal employees who are pleasant to be around. The real satisfaction of restaurant ownership comes from creating a pleasant environment that has many guests dining here five days a week.”
The recent Village Faire in the Carlsbad Village provided an inarguable testament to The Grand Deli's resilient appeal. Just outside Mike's door was the Faire's famous Food Court, featuring a boggling variety of mouth-watering fare, and yet, there was a solid line of customers at Mike's counter, snaking out the door and spilling out onto the sidewalk.
“Oh don't mind the line,” Mike said with a smile. “We're fast!”