About Restaurant

The Dilly Deli was founded in the summer of 1982 in The Old Town Center of the historic Village of Mariemont, near the Community Church and across the street from the original firehouse. Mariemont was long on the Register of National Historic Places as the first planned community in the United States, and in 2007 was elevated to National Historic Landmark status in recognition of that fact. (That puts Mariemont at the same level as the Washington Monument or the Grand Canyon!) We do not know the original owner's name, or how he coined the name "Dilly Deli". Perhaps it was a nod to London's Piccadilly Circle, maybe an allusion to dill pickles — we don't know! Just six months later the Deli was sold to Hans Nolte, who had recently retired from a successful machining business. Hans was the first to bring in wine, beer and gourmet foods along with the carry-out sandwiches — a combination that has continued to this day! In 1985 Hans Nolte retired (again!) and the Deli was bought by Bob and Jinny Richard, parents of Robbie and soon to be in-laws of Chuck. Having worked in restaurants and catering for the previous few years, Chuck was recruited to help out at the new venture. Chuck and his mother-in-law Jinny slowly expanded the wine, beer and gourmet food selection, and soon added catering to the mix as well. In 1989 another ownership change — Chuck and Robbie bought the business from her parents and continued the course of slow and steady growth. Just three years later Robbie joined the Deli full time, having spent a decade in sales and marketing management positions. Business continued to grow and by the mid 90's we were desperate for space and were looking for options!

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