ST. LOUIS — St. Louis restauranteur Ben Poremba is gearing up to open his latest concept, a New York-style Jewish deli called Deli Divine and located at the Delmar Divine project in the West End neighborhood.
Construction is underway, and Poremba is targeting a March 1 opening for the business, 5501 Delmar Blvd. Costs totaled $600,000, and construction is being handled by St. Peters-based Cissell Mueller Construction Inc.
A three-time James Beard Award semi-finalist, Poremba said his new concept is more fast-casual in nature than his other restaurants, and will employ 18 workers. Poremba’s Bengelina Hospitality Group operates Olio, Elaia, Nixta and The Benevolent King.
Deli Divine will serve matzah ball soup, chicken salad and other foods, but also feature a market with a selection of ingredients, prepared foods and wines, Poremba said.
The goal, like with Poremba’s other establishments will be to offer customers an experience.
“My concepts are very immersive,” he said. “The idea is that you get transported to wherever it is that I want to transport you to.”
Poremba, who is Jewish and a native of Israel, said he’s targeted opening a Jewish deli for a long time, and wants the concept to pay homage to the strong presence of jews in north St. Louis in the early 20th Century.
Click here for the full story, and a photo gallery of the Delmar Divine, from the St. Louis Business Journal.