I’ve never written a restaurant eulogy before. It saddens me to write this one.
Our beloved Haitham Imam, Dayton’s most gracious restaurateur is calling it quits. By chance I ran into Haitham, my neighbor, at the store this weekend when he told me, with a smile and a tear, that Carmen’s Deli would close on Friday April 28th. The 14 year run has come to an end.
Closing. Not remodeling. Not moving. Not exploring a new space.
Just closing.
Haitham, a Palestinian immigrant from Jerusalem, opened Carmen’s Deli back in 2009 then moved it in 2012 to what was then the Kettering Tower. Downtown has changed a lot since then and never more drastic than what we’ve experienced in the last three years. Kettering Tower is now Stratocache Tower and this is one of the unintended consequences of fewer people working downtown.
I’ll skip the rumors about Stratocache not being very interested in helping find a way to keep this institution afloat. For the record, Haitham never said a bad word to me about anyone. Not the empty Premier building across the street or the operators of Stratocache Tower. He simply thanked every patron for stopping in and waiting patiently.
Known for his smile and “thank you my friend for coming in today” and a long list of sandwiches including the falafel gyro and Reuben, both which topped my list of favorites. Haitham’s unceasing optimism and love for downtown was contagious. There was something about grabbing lunch where every sandwich and wrap was served with a side of love and gratitude.
I write this not so much as a goodbye, but rather a reminder of the good in our fair city. An immigrant coming to our city. Chasing his dream. Welcoming us into his special corner of downtown and feeding us with a smile. Let’s not forget that.
Here are three things you might not have known about Carmen’s Deli:
1) It was named after Haitham’s wife Carmen.
2) Haitham is a graduate of Sinclair’s Culinary Arts Program
3) Haitman is also employed by Sinclair and told me he will be working more there and you might find him cooking this summer for fans of the Dayton Dragons.
I’ll be there often over the next four weeks so I can thank him and grab one more falafel, one more reuben, one more burger, and hear him say “hello friend, good to see you” one more time.
Thank you my friend for feeding us these last 14 years. You and the deli will be missed.
