Not the end for Frank's Delicatessen?

The owner of a historic downtown deli that closed earlier this week is leaving a window open for a possible comeback for the restaurant.

Frank's Delicatessen opened on Durham Street in 1939, and was one of the oldest restaurants in Sudbury.
Mark Gregorini, also part owner of Ristorante Verdicchio, said he bought the restaurant five years ago to prevent it from closing.

Remembering the deli from his youth, he kept many of the classic menu items, including smoked meat sandwiches and foot-long hot dogs. But he said he was forced to shutter the restaurant Jan. 18 for economic reasons.

Although the deli always seemed to be packed during the lunch hour, that wasn't enough, Gregorini said. “Sure we're busy, but being busy for two hours a day during lunch doesn't make a business,” he said.

The deli's small, 38-seat dining room was also a problem, Gregorini said. He said delicatessens are a dying breed across North America, something he finds sad, as he enjoys visiting them.

While he's already laid off his seven staff members — he's trying to help them find new restaurant jobs — Gregorini doesn't rule out the possibility Frank's Delicatessen might re-open some day.

He didn't get into specifics of when or how that might happen, though. Gregorini said he's in the process of reevaluating his business model.

“Never say never,” he said. “I never turn my back on something. If we can take a look at it and see how it works, then quite possibly. If not, then we have to look at different avenues.”

A Facebook message announcing the restaurant's closure said something similar. “We thank you for including us in your life and look forward to offering you an improved dining experience,” the message said. “This is not a farewell.”

Meanwhile, people can still get their Frank's fix at Smith's markets, which will be selling the restaurant's pastrami and Montreal smoked meat at its deli counter.