WALNUT CREEK, CALIFORNIA – It’s the end of an era in Walnut Creek.
One of the East Bay’s most iconic Italian deli counters is preparing to shut down — and this time, its long-running downtown Walnut Creek shop says its final day is just days away.
A letter posted on the front door of Genova Delicatessen Retail says the business will be “closing its doors on Wednesday, February 18th.”
The note thanks customers for their “loyalty, support, and business throughout the years,” adding, “Serving you has truly been our pleasure.”
I stopped by to confirm the closure. Everything in Genova is 50% off, including wine, but excluding sandwiches.
If you’ve been meaning to make one last sandwich run, this is your window. Lots of locals were pouring in to offer their codependences to staff, and to express gratitude for years of service and tasty food.
Part of what makes this feel like the end of an era is Genova’s long Bay Area history. The original Genova Delicatessen traces back to 1926 in Oakland’s Temescal, and for generations it became synonymous with classic Italian deli culture.
Even as locations changed over the decades, that Genova-style deli experience stayed lodged in the East Bay’s food identity.
The Genova location at Countrywood shopping center closed last year. Genova’s downtown Walnut Creek location at 1105 S California Blvd was the last remaining store. Now, it’s sadly closing as well.
There is one bit of good news for the Genova name. In the posted notice, Genova says that while the retail location is closing, its wholesale products will continue to be available at local stores, so customers can still buy familiar Genova items even after the storefront shuts down.
There is still a Genova in Napa, although it wasn’t immediately clear what might happen with that location.
Stop in for a last sandwich, and to say goodbye to this East Bay legend.
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The Napa Genova is owned by another part of the family–apparently there was a rift that split them in two–and seems to be thriving (I was there this past weekend). Hopefully, it will stay that way!