A big change is coming to Ocean City, as Rosenfeld’s Jewish Delicatessen will close its original location at 6301 Coastal Highway and possibly look for a new home in the resort.
In a Facebook post, the owners said the original location will close permanently Oct. 24. The post went on to reassure fans that the “business is healthy and fine. We are not closing the Ocean City location due to lack of business.”
It went on to state that the eatery’s lease is up for the fourth time, and this time it is only being offered an 11-month extension, and economically it doesn’t make sense to continue in that location.
Will Rosenfeld’s reopen elsewhere in Ocean City?
The Facebook post raised that possibility of finding a new home for Rosenfeld’s in Ocean City, but also laid out the challenges.
“As for relocating this location, that remains a possibility, but a perfect mid-town, turnkey location would have to be made available, at a very reasonable rent. Even then, we’d have to get most of the staff back together again. It remains to be seen if any of this is a possibility,” the post stated.
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The Rosenfeld’s post also reflected on the deli’s time in Ocean City.
“Don’t be sad that this location is closing. Be amazed instead that it was ever able to open and thrive in Ocean City. If we were able to bring back memories of your grandma’s matzo ball soup, your Mom’s kugel, or your family trip as a youth to Lombard Street or to Murray Avenue, then our mission was accomplished. “
Other eateries in the Rosenfeld’s empire.
Though the Ocean City location is closing, Rosenfeld’s has other restaurants spread out around lower Delaware’s beaches.
It still operates delis in South Bethany and Rehoboth, and according to the Facebook post, still has its food truck rolling all around Delmarva.
But the Ocean City location isn’t the first one to close for Rosenfeld’s.
A closure at Salisbury’s airport
COVID-19 hit the airline industry especially hard, with major travel restrictions worldwide and reduced passenger traffic.
It also meant an end to getting a pastrami on rye at the Salisbury Airport, as Rosenfeld’s closed there in 2020 after a nearly two-year run.
“We regret to inform each of you that the Rosenfeld’s location at the airport will not be reopened,” the Jewish deli announced on Facebook. “Passenger traffic is still much reduced, and there is simply no way for the foreseeable future to have a profitable operation there. Thank you. We’re sorry.”
Transition in Wilmington, too
The owners of Rosenfeld’s Delicatessen closed the nearly 2-year-old downtown Wilmington location in August and will concentrate on a new Marsh Road site in Brandywine Hundred.
The Wilmington deli at 1204 N. Washington St. opened in fall 2020, just months after the COVID-19 pandemic devastated the nation’s restaurant industry.
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An announcement posted on the shop’s Facebook page said the site permanently closed on Aug. 7.
Here is the full Facebook post about Rosenfeld’s Jewish Delicatessen permanently closing its Ocean City location.