As excerpted from TRACES Magazine, Fall 2009, The Shapiro's Story, by Douglas Wissing.....
"The Shapiro's were soon in Indianapolis. With the five hundred dollars they'd brought from Odessa, the Shapiros opened a small store. But the little business could not provide a living for the family, so while Rebecca ran the grocery, Louis took work at the downtown Star Store, where a falling box injured his throat. The worst was yet to come. During his medical treatment, the doctors discovered Louis was suffering with tuberculosis, which required months-long treatment at the National Jewish Hospital for Consumptives in Denver."
"My mother had to support six kids," Sylvia recounted. "She had a wagon, and she went door to door selling pound bags of ground coffee." Rebecca bought freshly ground coffee from a south side wholesale roaster, hauling her goods to her customers with a pushcart. "She had such a big clientele, when my father came back to Indianapolis, he immediately bought a horse and wagon," noted Sylvia. An early picture shows the properly dressed Louis with his oldest daughter, Fanny, beside him in the wagon with a handsome gray in the traces. The elegant lettering on the wagon read, "Teas and Coffees. L. Shpiro. 1032 S Illinois St. 9965 both phones."
In 1912 the Indianapolis City Directory recorded a big move: It listed "Shapiro, Louis, grocer 808 S Meridian," a location that has remained Shapiro's to this day."
We are very proud to be a part of this history at Shapiro's. Take a look at our photos in the dining room the next time you find yourself dining in downtown Indianapolis. They are the real deal!
We have Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting! The chocolate cupcakes are delicious too! Unfortunately, I can give you first hand knowledge that the bakery treats created at Shapiro's Delicatessen are some of the finest in the city. I have the gym membership to prove it. Stop by our carryout counter and see what else we have in the pastry cases!
Keep us in mind when you are planning your graduation parties and other get togethers as we head into some very nice weather. You relax and let us take care of the goodies. Whether you are looking for kosher style food or the finest in bakery products, Shapiro's Delicatessen is the place to call. Stop by the downtown Indianapolis deli or the Carmel, Indiana deli when you are out and about the city.
Sitting on break the other day I said to my table mates, "Hey, that looks like the Dalai Lama." They scoffed and said "No way - he would have lots of security." I replied, "But he has divine protection, I'm sure. Why would he need more security than that?" That was the end of that. Well evidently he WAS here at Shapiro's! Wish I had paid more attention. These little moments are the interesting part of our days on the job.
We have had a fun, but very long, weekend and tonight is the night! It's not too late to come in and get yourself set up with food from the best kosher style restaurant in Indianapolis. The Carmel, Indiana deli will also be open until 9:00 tonight. Come on in and get stocked up on some deli favorites to munch on while you watch the NCAA Final Four game tonight.
GO BUTLER BULLDOGS!
Okay, we finally got a game plan. Shapiro's Deli Downtown will be open every day, of course, but on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday we will stay open until 9 p.m. That is April 1st, 2nd and 3rd. On Easter Sunday we will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. We will offer event parking on Saturday the 3rd and Monday, April 6th. Parking will be $30 and we will offer you a $10 coupon off a food purchase at the downtown location only. This coupon is good for 3 days from date of purchase.
Don't forget we open at 6:30 a.m. for breakfast (except Easter). It promises to be one heck of a week in Indianapolis. We promise to do our best to serve the masses the best corned beef, pastrami, and other kosher style food favorites.
By the way, we still have lots of Passover grocery items available - now at 50% off. John the Baker has made some flourless honey cakes and sponge cakes too.
If you happen to have a hotel room on the north side, don't forget to visit our Carmel, Indiana location during your down time. Rangeline Road and 123rd Street in Carmel. This location is open until 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and has a full-service breakfast on Saturday and Sunday until 11 a.m.
We of course are rooting for our Indiana teams, Butler and Purdue. We have some big Kentucky fans here too. Purdue is playing as I write this, so time will tell!
We look forward to serving you in Indianapolis during Final Four!
Beginning today Shapiro's Deli will be offering Bologna and Salami Sandwiches at $4.95!! This is a huge price break and it's not just a special....the boss changed the price! These are kosher-style meats that we offer every day along with our very popular pastrami, corned beef, and roast beef brisket. Yes, there is also peppered beef, roasted and smoked turkey, rare roast beef, and some awesome beef franks.
We are looking forward to a very busy week here at Shapiro's Deli. Along with our catering services, we are a very popular spot for St. Patrick's Day. Even in the midst of Big Ten Basketball we are busy prepping for St. Patty's. It's just a heartbeat away and then here comes more basketball with the NCAA Final Four Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium the first weekend in April.
If you are going to be in Carmel or Indianapolis and are looking for a kosher style restaurant, you MUST stop at Shapiro's Deli. I spoke to a gentleman this morning who has been coming here for 63 years. He still brings business associates here and I can't tell you how proud that makes us feel! Thank you for your loyalty.
We found out today that Indiana Congressman Andre Carson has a friendly arrangement made with Congressman Steve Scalise from New Orleans for the upcoming game between the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints. Seems if the Saints lose the game, Congressman Carson's Washington D.C. staff will be receiving some alligator sausage and blackened redfish from the Louisiana region. If the Colts lose (I can barely type those words) Congressman Scalise and his D.C. staff will be receiving some famous Reuben sandwiches from Shapiro's Deli and some sweets from Long's Bakery. We are proud that the best kosher style food served in Indianapolis will be enjoyed by folks from New Orleans - if, and that is a HUGE "IF" - the Saints are victorious. I say fat chance. Enjoy your alligator sausage Congressman Carson. When you come home to Indy please stop by Shapiro's for your Reuben! GO COLTS!
There is an award winning article about Shapiro's Delicatessen in the Fall 2009 issue of Traces of indiana and Midwestern History. Written by Douglas Wissing and published by the Indiana Historial Society, this article is entitled "The Shapiro's Story". An excerpt: "Run by Russian immigrantss from Odessa, Louis and Rebecca Shapiro, the store also included some of the couple's eight children, who helped out with customers as the youngest ones were safely ensconced in the apartment above." "Each morning for their customers' sensory delight, the Shapiros scattered aromatic spices on the grocery's wooden floors. 'It smelled so good', ninety eight year old Shapiro daughter Sylvia Gorfain remembered about her childhood in the store. 'People stood in line.'" The entire story is told in a dozen pages with so much detail and depth with insight into the personal stories of the Shapiro family through the generations.
Another fantastic mention was received in the National Geographic Food Journeys of a Lifetime, 500 Extraordinary Places to Eat Around the Globe. This is a beautiful book, as you would expect from National Geographic. In the section titled Top Ten Travelers' Restaurants, Shapiro's Deli is given a nod as one of the places to visit in the Indianapolis International Airport.
Several years ago, USA TODAY named Shapiro's Deli as one of the TOP 10 DELIS IN AMERICA.
If you happen to be in Indianapolis you should stop by and see us! Our deli in downtown Indianapolis or Carmel, Indiana are both easy to find. Our kosher style food is nationally recognized!
Shapiro's Deli is in full swing as our loyal customers celebrate Chanukah and prepare for their Christmas celebrations. Many families are gathering to share their time together over lunch or dinner at Shapiro's Deli. We've seen plenty of flashes from cameras as family photos are taken. Shapiro's offers a wide variety of kosher food choices to please everyone from the youngest toddler to grandma and grandpa. Put Shapiro's in your holiday plans!
Once you have enjoyed a relaxing meal stop by our carryout counter and pick up your last minute gifts. We are now offering gift cards which are re-loadable and do not expire. There are also some sweet stocking stuffers, gourmet jellies and preserves, syrups, baking mixes, and specialty mustards. While you are at the counter place your food order for the holidays. Through the first of the year we are still offering our Complete Turkey Dinner for $59.99. This is a great deal and will give you time to relax.
Stop by our restaurant in downtown Indianapolis or the Carmel, Indiana deli. We are here to help you have a great holiday season!
Our December special in our Carmel, Indiana location is a ROAST BEEF SANDWICH FOR $6!! This is a great deal. We are also bringing back our Sunday dinner special, which is Buy One Get One Half Off of the following dinners: Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner, Stuffed Cabbage Dinner, and Roast Beef Brisket Dinner. These specials are valid at our Carmel location only. Sandwich specials are valid Monday through Friday, dine-in customers only, limit one per customer, not valid with any other offers.
We are also now offering SHAPIRO'S GIFT CARDS! These cards are just in time for the holidays. Purchase and use these cards at the Downtown or Carmel locations. They do not expire and are re-loadable swipe cards.
Get your orders for the holidays called in early! We expect to be very busy this month and would appreciate your orders called in early so we can have plenty for everyone. Add some of Shapiro's traditional kosher style food to your holiday menu and give yourself time to enjoy family and friends. Can you believe it's December already??
Just a reminder that Shapiro's Deli is your place to go in Indianapolis and Carmel, Indiana when you are craving some good old fashioned kosher style food. Corned beef and cabbage, roast beef brisket, potato latkes, german potato salad, cabbage borscht, creamed herring, chopped liver, fresh bagels, Challah bread, and rugulach just to name a few. Whether you are having lunch in Carmel or dining in downtown Indianapolis, we are here 7 days a week to serve you. Keep us in mind for your office events this holiday season too. We have a great selection of party trays for your get togethers. We make things the old fashioned way - by hand! Hope to see you soon.
Shapiro's Deli will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. You can still enjoy your favorites from Shapiro's in Indianapolis or Carmel, Indiana if you pick up your goodies on Wednesday. The cooks and bakers are already busy (just like the elves in Santa's workshop) preparing your annual favorites. In addition to our Complete Turkey Dinner, we are wildly popular at Thanksgiving time for our baked goods. We have a huge variety of pies, including traditional pumpkin pie. Go to the Pastries & Desserts section of our website, www.shapiros.com to check out a full listing of pies and cakes. Pre-ordering is recommended. We can do a lot with 24 hours notice! We are thankful as a company for our loyal customers who make us a part of their annual Thanksgiving tradition. Enjoy the day! We will be open again at 6:30 a.m. on Friday morning cooking up our kosher style food for your shopping weekend.
If you are celebrating the Jewish High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Shapiro's Deli is ready with kosher style favorites for your family gatherings. Call us to place your order as soon as possible. The Carmel Indiana Deli and the Indianapolis Deli are both prepared to help you with your needs.
Well it's Labor Day weekend and there are plenty of things to do if you are staying home for the holiday. NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals are at O'Reilly Raceway Park, Rib America Festival at Military Park, Labor Day Parade in downtown Indianapolis Saturday at 11 a.m., American Idols Concert at Conseco Fieldhouse Saturday at 7 p.m., Indiana Fever game Sunday at 4 p.m., and last but not least, the Horseshoe Classic at Lucas Oil Stadium Saturday. This is the inaugural event of the Horseshoe Classic, which features four high school football games with talent from Indiana & Ohio.
So please come visit us here at Shapiro's! If we have to work the holiday we would love to be busy! We will be serving the best kosher style food in Indianapolis. Corned Beef, pastrami, roast beef, and the best cheesecake in Indianapolis are waiting for you. Hope you can stop by.
Next week we'll be putting out the fishbowls at the Carmel Indiana Deli and the Indianapolis Deli. Drop in your business card and we will be awarding a free lunch to a lucky recipient weekly. We will add you to the e-mail club too, so you can receive our News From the Line newsletters. Plus you'll be eligible to get a free piece of cake or pie for your birthday!
You could also be eligible for a free Shapiro's lunch if you call and make an appointment with our Marketing Manager, Jay Slavin, to discuss your upcoming catering needs. Downtown phone is (317) 631-4041 and the Carmel phone is (317) 573-3354. We are expanding our catering services in Indianapolis and Carmel to meet your needs. You will be pleased to offer the best kosher style food to your office mates or personal guests. This is not just any deli - this is Shapiro's Deli - named one of the TOP TEN DELIS IN AMERICA BY USA TODAY! Give us a call!
Please welcome our new Marketing/Catering Manager, Mr. Jay Slavin. Shapiro's has offered catering services in Indianapolis for quite some time, but Jay is going to help us get the information out to everyone in the community. This goes for our catering services from Carmel, Indiana too. Lots of Indianapolis local restaurants offer catering. There are many price points and a variety of food. What we offer is Shapiro's authentic kosher style food, which is of the highest quality! Our portions are bigger and better too! Say hello to Jay next time you stop by Shapiro's or give us a call and we will have Jay stop by to meet you. We are ready to meet your catering needs. Breakfast, lunch or dinner options are available.
Did you know the best kosher style food in Indianapolis is also being served at the Indianapolis International Airport? Of course it is Shapiro's Deli! If you are a ticketed traveler, you can still get the best corned beef in Indianapolis. Okay, you can also get pastrami, roast beef, turkey and kosher style franks! Just go to Shapiro's, near Gate B15 to order your Shapiro's sandwich. We also offer our famous macaroni and cheese. It does
n't matter if your flight leaves from Concourse A. Once you have passed through security you are free to visit the shops and restaurants on either Concourse A or B. Take a comforting piece of home with you on the flight.
It's got to be better than "airline food".
I asked some of our employees to share memories about our past and current owners. Shapiro's has been the place to get Kosher Style Food in Indianapolis for over 100 years. Without these great leaders, Shapiro's would not be the great deli that it is today.
Max ShapiroMax would come in and bake all of his own items around 3:30 or 4:30am. He would work right there with you and would be here from sunrise to sunset. He took care of all of his employees and would teach you anything you wanted. He was a great person and is truly missed by everyone.
Mort ShapiroMort would come in with a cigar and stock market book in his hand. He would sit at the front table, smoke his cigar, and watch all of the employees through the mirrors. He would do anything for his employees. He was definitely a business man. He, too, was a great person and is truly missed by everyone.
Brian Shapiro- Current Owner
Brian is a very giving person. He helps out employees and customers just like they are family. His door is always open. He is very educated, holding multiple degrees. He is very concerned and involved with the youth. He is a great inspiration to all of us.
There is plenty to do in Carmel, Indiana if you just know where to look. There is the Carmel Farmers Market on Saturday mornings, the Summer Family Concert Series at the Gazebo, Central Park with its Outdoor Aqua Park, and Jazz on the Monon just to name a few. Many folks are taking a "staycation" instead of that expensive vacation this year. While you are exploring the nearly 18 square miles of Carmel, Indiana, you might want to try our Carmel Indiana Deli. Kosher-Style Jewish cuisine is offered 7 days a week. To find out more about activities in Carmel visit
www.ci.carmel.in.us. Get to know this up and coming city in Hamilton County.
There are probably not too many restaurants in downtown Indianapolis that even use the word "brisket" on their menu. You can learn a lot about Kosher Style Food and the history of Jewish Food at this Indianapolis deli. "Brisket" is a cut of meat from the breast or lower chest. While all meat animals have a brisket, the term is most often used to describe beef or veal. The brisket is made up of two separate muscles which are sometimes separated for retail cutting: the lean "first cut" and the fattier "second cut".
When you order brisket at Shapiro's you could be ordering corned beef brisket or roast beef brisket. So don't be surprised if you order brisket and we ask you which kind....corned beef or roast beef? Remember, it is just the cut.
Join us at the Carmel Indiana Deli on July 3rd or 4th to participate in the Independence Day festivities of Carmelfest! We will have the grill open and be serving our usual fare of kosher style food indoors in the air conditioning. Check on-line at
www.carmelfest.net to get event details. Shapiro's Deli is right in the thick of things. Come see us.
Join us at the Indianapolis Deli on 4th of July to get a good meal and great seating to watch the downtown fireworks display. Join our employees in the parking lot! We work hard all day and then relax after work watching the fireworks display. If you are looking for Catering Services we are also the place to call. Go on-line at
www.shapiros.com to check out our Party Tray options if you are having your own get together.
We will be in the deli all day hoping to serve you and your family. Bring the kids down for some Independence Day festivities!
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