Over its history, DEAN & DELUCA has earned a reputation as an icon of New York City culture and lifestyle. Revered as a hub for the discovery of new culinary trends and little known culinary traditions, DEAN & DELUCA is the only brand that has the cultural status and global brand awareness to be the defining brand in gourmet food retail around the world.
History
Giorgio DeLuca, a school teacher turned cheese
merchant, and Joel Dean, a business manager at a publisher, dreamed of creating
a place that would offer customers a sumptuous celebration of food and a venue
to experience all of the pleasures that cooking and eating can bring.
The original DEAN & DELUCA opened for business in
September 1977 in SoHo, then an edgy artist and warehouse district in lower
Manhattan, at the corner of Prince and Greene streets. The original store was
designed to evoke a turn of the century food department, replete with ceiling fans
spinning over a vast array of products that lined the soaring white walls of
this enchanted emporium. It was an
instant success; quickly overflowing with food, housewares and customers. On
display was a staggering variety of produce and foodstuffs, including many
never previously sold in the United States.
“We were the first to bring in radicchio,” recalls
Giorgio DeLuca, “the first to sell balsamic vinegar, sun-dried tomatoes and
dried mushrooms. In those early days I went out of my way to establish extra
virgin olive oil ... everyone who came into the store got a taste.” DEAN & DELUCA quickly became a “not to be
missed” destination for food loving New Yorkers and tourists alike. And it was
soon obvious more space than the overcrowded 2,600 square feet would be needed.
Expansion
In 1986, a small manufacturing company and an army/navy
store agreed to vacate 10,000 square feet of street level space at the corner
of Broadway and Prince Street. It was the perfect size and the ideal location.
But first, one of DEAN & DELUCA’s founding partners, Jack Ceglic, would be responsible
for redesigning the location around the concept of an outdoor marketplace.
There was a neo-classical, minimalist look to it all.
Massive, exposed columns, Carrarra marble floors, white tile walls, stainless
steel shelving and display cases. There was ample room for the meat, fish and
grocery display counters that would enable customers to assemble all the ingredients
for a complete meal without having to visit another store. The new DEAN &
DELUCA opened October 6, 1988 to rave reviews.
DEAN & DELUCA Today
Since our initial store opening, DEAN & DELUCA has
added additional locations in New York City; Washington D.C.; Charlotte, North
Carolina; Leawood, Kansas and Napa Valley, California. In addition, several
international locations have opened in Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea and
The Middle East.
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