Rose Kravitz to be commemorated with rarely available foods, specials, bagels, & brunch
When Matthew Rydarowicz became the owner of Kravitz Deli, he knew a thing or two about listening to his mother. After all, his mother, Patricia Rydarowicz has run the Inspired Catering side of the business since 2016 and encouraged him to buy the business.
It’s not the first time in the deli’s history that “mama knew best”, and that’s why each January Kravitz Deli celebrates the mother who started it all. When Rose Kravitz opened her deli in 1939, the young Rose was focused on providing for her young family, not establishing a Mahoning Valley institution.
But that’s exactly what she and later her son, Jack, did! To salute this hard work and the traditions that grew Kravitz Deli, the Rydarowicz family will host the 10th Annual Rose Kravitz Birthday and Jewish Food Fest from Monday, January 27 thru Saturday, February 1 and serve Rose’s traditional favorites for one week only.
Festivities include:
● Rose K XL Sandwiches for only $16
● Family-themed sandwiches like THE HERBIE and the THREE KIDS
● Birthday cake on her special day, Wednesday, January 29
● Birthday Breakfast on Saturday, February 1 from 10 AM – 3 PM at her Deli
● The return of the TONGUE CHALLENGE – are you brave enough to try it??
“Kravitz started as a family business and continues that way. To this day, some of our employees are second-generation family members from the original deli,” says Rydarowicz, pointing out that his sister Brianna is the manager of the Garden Café at Mill Creek Metro Parks, and his mother leads Inspired Catering. “Rather than ignore the deep-seated history of the deli in the community, we want to honor the traditions and recognize the impact Rose made on the entire region with her drive, practical approach, and engagement with the customer.”
The Old World dishes are just as special to Rydarowicz’s Polish heritage as Rose’s Croatian/Hungarian roots. Eastern European-Yiddish favorites such as the Boiled Egg Bagel, the Chicken Mish Mosh Soup, Chopped Chicken Liver, Knishes, and Sweet Noodle Kugel will be featured on the menu all week.
Rose Kravitz was one of the Valley’s first “ladypreneur” when she opened her deli at only 23. Facing the challenge with more courage than money, Rose was so poor that she had to borrow money to make change for the first day of business at what was then called the Elm Street Delicatessen. The hard work was emblematic of how this charismatic business owner made her living, according to owners.
Rose passed away in 2011 having spent almost every day of her adult life at her deli, including up to five weeks before her death.