Mort's Palisades Deli facts for kids

Mort's Palisades Deli, often called Mort's Deli, was a popular Jewish delicatessen. It was located at 1035 Swarthmore Avenue in Pacific Palisades, California. This deli was a well-known spot for many years.

History of Mort's Deli

In the early 1970s, Mort Farberow opened a butcher shop. It was on Sunset Boulevard in Pacific Palisades. Mort wanted to do more with his business. So, he and his wife, Bobbie Farberow, moved their shop. They opened "Mort’s Palisades Deli" in 1972 on Swarthmore Avenue. This was a great time for the deli. Many Jewish families were moving to the Palisades area.

In 1978, Mort's Deli moved to a bigger spot. It went to 1035 Swarthmore, across the street. The deli stayed there until it closed in 2007.

During the 1980s, many new restaurants opened in Los Angeles. Mort's Deli faced a lot of competition. About 30 new delis opened in the Palisades area. Mort handled this by being smart with his business. He cut down on waste and raised prices a little. By 1989, people were choosing healthier foods. Mort's Deli saw more customers asking for leaner meats like turkey.

In 2005, the deli experienced a challenging event. Despite this, Mort's remained a strong part of the community.

Mort Farberow, the original owner, once said in an interview: "We make 99 percent of our food from scratch. This includes all our soups." He also said that being there every day helped make Mort's a special place.

Many generations of families grew up eating at Mort's Deli. Kids who ate there later brought their own children. The deli became a very important part of the community. Many staff members worked at Mort's for decades. The 2000 Fodor's travel guide praised the deli. It especially liked the wide variety of foods on the menu.

The Deli Closes

Mort Farberow passed away in 2002. In 2007, his wife Bobbie decided to sell the deli. The buyer was Richard Riordan, a former mayor of Los Angeles. He owned other restaurants in Pacific Palisades. These included Gladstones and the Original Pantry.

Riordan reopened the deli in 2008. He changed its name to "Village Pantry." Eater magazine described the new deli. It said the place looked very different. It also noted that prices were higher than before.

Famous Visitors

Mort’s Deli was a favorite spot for many famous people. Some of its well-known customers included Larry David, Larry King, and Marlon Brando. One day, Marlon Brando visited the deli. Mort Farberow was the only one who recognized him.

Another time, in 2001, actor Steve Guttenberg was having lunch. He was with his mother at Mort's. They met other actors, Martin Short and Anthony Hopkins. Both Short and Hopkins had been "honorary mayors" of Pacific Palisades. An honorary mayor is a local celebrity who helps promote the town.

Guttenberg's mother encouraged him to run for honorary mayor. He remembered the moment at the deli: "My mom went up to Tony and said, 'Excuse me, Hannibal, should my son be mayor?'" Hopkins replied, "It would be a wonderful thing." Steve Guttenberg later became an honorary mayor of Pacific Palisades.

In Popular Culture

Mort's Palisades Deli was shown in the HBO TV series Curb Your Enthusiasm. In the show, the deli was called "Leo's Deli".

Mort's Legacy

On January 3, 2020, local city councilman Mike Bonin honored Bobbie Farberow. She was the former owner of Mort's Deli. Bonin called her a "community volunteer extraordinaire." He chose her as the 2019 honoree for Pacific Palisades. This was part of his yearly tradition to honor people who help their neighborhoods.