The future of Steve’s Deli in downtown Jackson is now in doubt as owner Steve Long and his wife Julie will be moving to Pennsylvania at the end of the month.
While the Lamar Street location has already been taken over and is open under new ownership, a previously announced deal for the Congress Street location has fallen through.
The flagship location will remain open under Long’s ownership until May 26 as he looks for a new owner.
“The deal (for the Congress Street location) fell through two or three weeks ago. I guess you could call it a pricing disagreement at the last minute,” Long said. “So, I am looking for a buyer again.”
Steve’s has gained an almost cult following over the years as his sandwiches and cookies have been a staple for the downtown business crowd.
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“May 26 is a firm date. I have too many things in motion that I cannot change,” Long said. “There are moving things and packing things and lease things. It’s just where we are. It’s not a lot of money. I’m not talking about selling it for much more than what the equipment is worth.”
Long said he is trying to capitalize, even if it just a bit, on the fact that the equipment is in a facility that is already operating and has a built-in following.
“If I have to liquidate it, that place will be vacant for months,” Long said.
Long has never lacked for confidence about his food, however, saying that he is the Beatles of soups.
Despite the fact that Long will be leaving, learning to make his famous soups at home is not out of the question. He has self published a cookbook that is on sale at the Congress Street location for $25. Its debut was Monday.
“That’s a little bit of a legacy and has a lot of bit of everything from the restaurant over the years,” he said. “It has soups and entrees and desserts and a few tricks of the trade that folks can see. There are some of my signature sauces that I have used.”
He said he is printing them in small numbers and reprinting them as needed.
As for the restaurant and potential buyers, he said anyone can contact him through the restaurant.
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