American Choice Deli Closes

Barely six months has already elapsed since the arrival of a re-branded storefront canopy. Yet today, American Choice Deli at 111 Delancey is no longer a choice for neighborhood residents. The longstanding bodega at the southwest corner of Essex Street, which operated here since 1966, shuttered over the holiday weekend. Boogie reader Tom sent in pictures of the farewell note. Time to say your goodbyes. At least Happiness Deli is still around…

Meanwhile, there is already a replacement tenant waiting in the wings. Now that American Choice Deli closed its doors, the adjoining Chase Bank will reportedly swoop in and annex the space. Between both its nearby locations, Chase now operates a monopoly of sorts along this strip of Delancey. Below is the letter that was pasted to the doors:

Dear Friends and Customers,

American Choice Deli will have to close in a few days. The bank next door will be expanding.

We will miss you all!

Best wishes,
Mohammed, manager, and all the staff

By yesterday afternoon, the grocery guts of the corner store were almost completely cleared. What remains is an empty shell of its former self – refrigeration units, glass cases, coffee machines, and dangling wires.