My partner and I first learned about Stop One Gourmet Deli when we went to a bookstore dedicated to feminism/social activism called Bluestockings in the Lower East Side. In the interview at Bluestockings, we were told that the landlord of all the businesses on the block, including Bluestockings, is a Yemeni man who owns a grocery store called Stop One Gourmet Deli on the corner of Stanton and Allen streets. Maria, the volunteer, went on to tell us that, considering the property value and size of the space they were renting, the landlord has been cutting them a sweet deal. Most of the rent money they pay only covers the property tax – the landlord does not make a lot of money off of renting out the space because he has thus far refrained from jacking up the rent. I wondered why the landlord wouldn’t raise the rent if he knew he could make more money off that space, so I asked the Maria. She said that the Yemeni man (who will remain unnamed) had established a good relationship with the collective that owns Bluestockings and that he likes stability. She went on the elaborate that even though the landlord is not a feminist or hard leftist, his values and views do align with those of Bluestockings – which makes the relationship all the more important. So, after the interview at Bluestockings, Nicole and I decided to go about half a block down to Stop One Gourmet Deli (which the landlord owns).
From the outside, Stop One looked like a completely ordinary deli – but I expected it to be different somehow. But after walking in and around the deli, it was obvious that there was nothing especially unique or different about the deli. There were four employees working there at the time: an African-American man was making sandwiches, a Hispanic-looking man was restocking shelves, another Hispanic-looking man was making coffee and a Middle Eastern-looking man was at the cash register. There was a limited variety of goods in the deli – items that you would usually expect to find in a deli. The atmosphere of the place was cozy but the workers seemed busy so I was a little intimidated. I felt bad about just walking about to the cashier to ask questions without buying something first, so I bought a jar of peanut butter and then I used the opportunity to ask the cashier if he would be interested in being interviewed about the business. The cashier, named Haron, agreed. We learned that Haron is the nephew of the Yemini landlord who featured prominently in our discussion with Maria at Bluestockings (we were not given permission to use the landlord’s name). Haron works part-time (he also has two other part-time jobs) at Stop One 4-5 days a week and he told us that he is satisfied with his job and workplace. He has been working there for 3-4 years and he doesn’t see himself going anywhere else anytime soon.
Stop One has twelve employees and it is the only grocery store within one square block. According to Haron, Stop One has not faced any significant difficulties – financial or otherwise. Stop One also does not have any major competitors (for the time being). The deli is busiest during rush hour and weeknights. Haron noted pretty comically that it was interesting to see that most customers look spiffy and well put-together during rush hour and weekdays and then that they are that those same customers are “totally wasted” on weeknight nights (nightlife in the adjacent East Village is very lively). The clientele of the deli is mostly made up of two groups: regular customers and tourists. There are many tourists, including a significant amount of international tourists, who stop by to get a few things. However, it is the local clientele that the deli is dependent on. Haron told us that most of the deli’s regular customers are residents of a city housing project that is across the street and that they have been going to the deli for years (“they don’t have any other place to go”). However, Haron also told us that he sees a lot of new faces from the gentrifying part of the Lower East Side – and that these newcomers tend to be whiter and more affluent, while the long-term residents are mostly low-income minorities.
Although business seemed to be slow-going at Stop One on the day that we did the interview, things seem to be looking up for Stop One. The owner is also the landlord – so rapidly rising rent is not much of an issue. Stop One is celebrating its 30th anniversary – it opened in 1987 – and it does not seem to be in immediate danger. However, changes in the neighborhood have clearly had a significant impact on the deli, and these changes are likely to continue. We wish nothing but the best for Stop One and hope that they continue to remain a fixture in the community.
