Watchung Deli Sandwiches Are Returning to Montclair with Pop-Up Concept Called ‘The Skinny Deli’
Many Montclairians know and love the Watchung Deli, which used to be located at 117 Watchung Avenue in Montclair. Grabbing “The Sandwich” or an “Angry Dwarf” in Watchung Plaza was always guaranteed to be a satisfying treat — and what many will be ecstatic to hear is that another local Montclair restaurant, Dan + Day’s, is collaborating with the deli to open a ghost kitchen at the 598 Valley Road burger spot, featuring Watchung Deli favorites. The project, called The Skinny Deli, will not only feature Watchung Deli menu items, but also some new gourmet sandwiches from Dan + Day’s. Read on for all the details about The Skinny Deli’s debut and Watchung Deli’s comeback at Dan + Day’s.
How Dan + Day’s Came to Be
Husband and wife, Dan and Dayanna Campea, the faces behind Dan + Day's Burger and Shakes, opened just last year after closing the nearby location, Stuffed Grassfed Burgers. Dan, a lifelong Montclair resident, started Stuffed Grassfed Burgers at 24 years old. Although he and his wife made the decision to reinvent their restaurant dreams with a new name and location, the menu still features many of the Stuffed GB faves. Since its opening, Dan + Day’s has already become a popular spot to grab a bite to eat in Montclair.
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The Watchung Deli’s History
The Watchung Deli was a staple of Montclair from 1926 until 2020, when it closed its doors at 117 Watchung Avenue. Gary and Maureen Kiffer, alongside Robert and Jeanne Johannsen, ran the legendary deli until 2015, when it was bought by Peter and Anne von Hoffman. With the pandemic in 2020, the deli was forced to shut down permanently, leaving many Montclair residents in despair.
The Skinny Deli Concept
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Dan shared via Instagram, “When I was a kid, my dad and I had a tradition: before heading to Yankee Stadium for playoff games, we’d stop by for our ‘good luck sandwiches’. Robert, a die-hard Mets fan, would begrudgingly make them, probably hoping they brought us bad luck (they didn't). I went there constantly—after baseball practice, after games, and during my lunch breaks at Montclair High School. It felt like everyone in town did the same.”
Dan shared that he had a full-circle moment when Watchung Deli owners Robert and Jeanne did a pop-up at his restaurant back in March, where they sold over 350 sandwiches.
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After the pop-up’s success, Dan shared with The Montclair Girl, “It was clear there was still a ton of demand for The Watchung Deli. Dayanna and I decided we couldn’t let this go.”
So, the two teams decided to open a virtual restaurant/ghost kitchen featuring many of the Watchung deli classics like “The Sandwich" (Dan’s favorite), “Ben’s Special,” “The Angry Dwarf,” as well as some of their own gourmet sandwich creations.
The vision is to make the virtual restaurant more of a gourmet sandwich shop rather than a deli, with a smaller and more focused menu.
The Skinny Deli’s Name
Dan shared with The Montclair Girl that they chose this name to pay homage to The Watchung Deli’s old nickname, The Skinny Deli. The owners of Jackie’s Grillette used to own a larger deli to the left of Mr. Dino’s, with the smaller deli, The Watchung Deli, on the right, giving them their respective nicknames. He also explained that with a smaller menu than a traditional menu, it made more sense to call it a skinny deli. The deli will hopefully be open within a few weeks, and we couldn’t be more excited.
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Looking Ahead
In the long term, Dan + Day shared their goal is to open a physical location for The Skinny Deli. In the interim, customers will only be able to order online through third-party apps. Orders can be picked up by customers with the cashier at Dan + Day’s just like they would pick up a burger.
