This morning we made a trip to Schwaben which is a German delicatessen that closed down about 4 years ago and has reopened again. The brother and sister who owned the deli had a falling out and they sold the business to new owners who ran it into the ground and it looks like the sister has reopened the deli on her own this time around.
Back in the heyday of this business you had to queue at the counters and tills and they are not back there just yet, but as word gets around this place will be pumping again. We only found out they had reopened on Wednesday this week and had to make a point of going to check it out this morning. When i asked the owner she said they reopened in July last year and you would have thought they would have spread the word a little quicker with some advertising.
We visited Schwaben when the ownership had changed and we never bought anything as nothing looked like it has been produced in house and I guess others thought the same as it was shut down within 6 months.
The deli is popular as it is licensed and they not only sell German sausages and other specialties, but various German beers. They have a wide range of imported German goods as well which you do not find anywhere else.
What amazes me is the people that took over the business 4 years ago were so clueless and you do not take over a business that is at it's peak and not know how the business functions. it does not matter of you can run a business or not but this is a specialist food business that requires hands on know how knowledge. The profits are made by processing the meats yourself in house and what sets you apart.
Cold and smoked meats take know how as they do the smoking and processing all themselves on site and this is the knowledge one needs. Most other delicatessens buy in from suppliers and why they are not specialists like this German deli is and why it stands out and is so popular.
If I want cold meats I will have no problem driving the 40 minutes because I know the quality I am getting is top notch plus the selection is huge in comparison to other places.
Word has not got out that they have reopened as I phoned my German friend when I was at Schwaben and he had no idea and was jumping in his car and coming straight away. There must have been a good 100 people whilst we sat down and had a bite to eat so the sister is back on track to rebuilding the business to what it was in the past.
The deli is not cheap, but then again nothing is cheap these days and you may as well be playing for quality when you are paying. We bought around 7 different types of cold meats and various sausages to have with salad later on tonight. There was a potato vinegar salad which I bought and I am keen to try and it will hopefully be good.