Jake Dell, 39, owner of Katz’s Delicatessen in New York City, says he has been coming to the deli since before he could crawl. His grandfather, father and uncle took it over in 1988, 100 years after it was established.
He worked the soda station at around 7, had his 6th birthday there and had his bar mitzvah in the deli. The famous “When Harry Met Sally” scene still draws people nearly 40 years on, with visitors reenacting it and even proposing at the same table.
Katz’s Meat Cutters Are Its Highest-Paid Staff, Says Owner
Dell picked up a carving knife at 21. Meat cutters usually spend 10 or more years working through other stations first, and they are the deli’s most highly paid store staff.
He had planned to become a doctor and took a gap year before medical school, still working at Katz’s. He realised the business might disappear if no one took over, but did not want to decide out of guilt. During that year he fell in love with the place and found his calling.
He formally joined in 2009 and earned an MBA at his family’s request. His father and uncle, now in their late 70s, step in for lunch and offer “constructive input.”
Dell now leads a team of about 200 across several businesses. He prioritises being home for his kids, aged 5 and 3, and hopes one may take over someday.
