Caplansky's Delicatessen facts for kids

Caplansky's Delicatessen is a famous delicatessen (a deli for short) that started in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. A deli is a place where you can buy special foods like sliced meats, cheeses, and unique sandwiches. Caplansky's was known for its delicious smoked meat sandwiches and knishes, which are tasty baked or fried dough snacks.

What is Caplansky's Delicatessen?

Caplansky's Delicatessen is a type of Jewish delicatessen. This means it serves foods inspired by Jewish traditions, often in a "kosher style," which refers to the way food is prepared. Their main dishes included hand-cut smoked meat sandwiches and knishes.

How It Started

The story of Caplansky's began in 2007. A person named Zane Caplansky rented a small room in a place called the Monarch Tavern. There, he started making and selling his own special smoked meat sandwiches. People loved his food, and it became very popular!

Because of this success, Zane Caplansky opened his own full restaurant in 2009. It was located on College Street in Toronto, near an interesting area called Kensington Market.

Growing Bigger

Caplansky's kept growing and trying new things.

• In 2011, they launched a food truck! It was named "Thunderin' Thelma." This truck traveled around the city, selling food at different events and locations.
• In 2013, Caplansky's started selling their own line of mustard in grocery stores. You could find their mustards in stores across Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia.
• In 2014, Caplansky's became known worldwide when it helped sponsor the Toronto Palestine Film Festival.
• Later in 2014, they opened another restaurant at Pearson International Airport. This meant travelers could enjoy their food too! Another location also opened in the fancy Yorkville area of Toronto.
• In 2019, Caplansky's opened a food stand at the Rogers Centre, a big stadium. They also started selling their mustards online again.

Challenges and Changes

Like many businesses, Caplansky's faced some tough times.

• In 2016, the College Street location had a problem with its landlord. The restaurant had to close temporarily.
• Even though a court later said Caplansky's could reopen, business never fully recovered.
• On January 3, 2018, the College Street location closed for good.
• The Yorkville location also closed soon after, on January 31, 2018.

After Caplansky's College Street location closed, a new store opened there. It was a famous Japanese dessert shop called LeTAO. They sold cheesecakes, chocolates, and cookies that came all the way from Hokkaido, Japan. LeTAO made the old space look new and modern, but it has also closed since then.

What's Left Today?

Today, the only Caplansky's Delicatessen location that is still open is the one at Pearson International Airport. This location is run by another company that uses the Caplansky's name. The famous "Thunderin' Thelma" food truck is no longer operating and has been sold.