The new kosher butcher and deli that will operate out of the shuttered Kohn’s Kosher Meat and Deli will offer high quality products at a fair price. Those are the primary goals planned by Avi Rosenberg, who will own and operate Nate’s Kosher Deli.
Rosenberg has worked in the restaurant and food services business since he was 17 years old. He is the former director of operations at the Simply Sushi kosher franchise. There is no firm date for the official opening of Nate’s Kosher Deli, but it will definitely feature a kosher butcher and deli sandwich take-out service.
“It’s going to be a gourmet butcher-take-out deli shop,” said Rosenberg, 34. “I’m going to bring in good quality meat. And I’m going to be fair and try to keep the prices very reasonable.”
Achieving quality and maintaining profit margins in the restaurant business requires a careful balance, Rosenberg said. To effectively manage a kosher butcher and deli requires knowing where to trim costs and secure food purveyors that can be good partners. It also requires a firm hand at operations, which Rosenberg said is one of his top skills.
Although Nate’s will not initially offer sit-down service or catering, those are likely options also in its long-term plans.
“I’m going to do those things, but not right away,” said Rosenberg. “It’s going to be a gradual thing. To do it right, you’ve got to start off small, with a small menu. You can always build it up. When you only have five items on your menu, you’re going to cook good food because you’re doing it right.”
Perhaps the best news for fans of Kohn’s is that Rosenberg plans to use familiar recipes for the Nate’s take-out menu.
“I’m going to bring back Lenny Kohn’s recipe for pastrami,” he said. “It worked for 60 years. You don’t change what works.”
The former Kohn’s building at 10405 Old Olive Street Road will be a temporary home for Nate’s Kosher Deli, Rosenberg said. He is in the process of searching for a suitable permanent space.
He also said Nate’s will be under the supervision of the Vaad Hoeir of St. Louis, which provides kosher certification, Rosenberg said. Calls to the Vaad were not returned.
