New Owners Keep Traditions Going at Kravitz Deli

LIBERTY, Ohio — The new owners of Kravitz Delicatessen Inc. assure customers that operations will continue as normal.

Matthew Rydarowicz wants to keep traditions going for patrons and the community. It was announced Tuesday morning that he and his mother, Patricia Rydarowicz, purchased Kravitz Deli from Jack Kravitz.

The conversation to purchase the iconic deli started when Kravitz asked Matthew Rydarowicz if he was ready, with discussions growing serious in 2021.

“I said yeah, I’ll definitely do it,” Rydarowicz said.

The sale includes the Liberty and Mill Creek Park locations of Kravitz, as well as Inspired Catering by Kravitz.

Rydarowicz bring years of experience working at Dairy Farmers of America in New Wilmington, Pa., while working part-time at Kravitz and at its catering events. He will be joined by his mother, Patricia, who will work as general manager and will oversee Inspired Catering. His sister, Bri, is the deli manager.

The Rydarowiczes want to let everyone know that things will stay the same at each location, they said. The plans are just to “pass the Reuben,” as Kravitz said.

All 35 employees are being retained. Plans are to expand Inspired Catering, Patricia Rydarowicz said.

“That’s what we purchased — to keep it as the Kravtiz that everybody knows,” she said.

Chris Printer, the chef, and Karen Cooper, office manager, are also staying on.

Kravitz Deli was started in 1939 by the late Rose Kravitz. Her son Jack took over in 2011 when Rose died. Wanting the business to continue, he chose the Rydarowicz family as his successor.

“If I kept running the business, it wouldn’t survive me,” Kravitz said. “Now, we’re able to pass it to a family, and they have family. A whole bunch more want to come on.”

That includes Patricia Rydarowicz’s four children and 10 grandchildren. “It’ll be around for another 83 years,” she said.

The Rydarowicz family has been with Kravitz for about a decade, and Patricia helped build the catering side to one-third of Kravitz’s total business, up from the initial 5%.

Customers can expect the same things, from menu staples to that familiar friendly greeting when walking through the door, Matthew Rydarowicz said.

“I’m going to have to write down all of his jokes and tell them when people walk in. I’m just a younger version of Jack,” he said.

The family’s initial investment to purchase the company was $250,000, which Valley Economic Development Partners helped in securing, Rydarowicz said. He expects more investments to come in the next couple of years.

Pictured: Patricia, Bri and Matthew Rydarowicz represent the next generation of Kravitz Deli ownership. Matthew purchased the company, while ins mother, Patricia, is general manager, and his sister, Bri, is deli manager.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.