By Patty Talahongva

    The Meirov family has found a larger home for their business on east Glendale Avenue...by way of Uzbekistan and New York. The newly reopened Imperial Market & Deli now boasts a restaurant, full deli and a grocery store. The deli recently moved from 12th Street and Glendale, where it was in business for the past five years, to a new building at 737 E. Glendale Ave.

    “In our old location we just sold deli by the pound and had a small variety of deli meats to choose from,” says Zvi Meirov. “We have expanded our selection of deli by adding products like tongue and roast beef to our menu and we don’t just serve deli by the pound, but we now have a full deli menu that includes hot sandwiches, too.”

    Those sandwiches range in price from $7.99 to $11.99. You can select soup or salad to complete your deli meal. Side dishes include hummus, babaganoush, fries or onion rings.

 

“People can’t stop talking about it,” says Zvi‘s twin brother, Jonathan, about the deli and the six varieties of pastrami they now offer. “And the corned beef and pastrami are out of this world,” he says. However, picky eaters can order a hamburger or a grilled chicken sandwich.

    The twins, along with their parents Yakov and Tamara, run the grocery store and restaurant. Patrons might be confused at first to see the twins working but they quickly figure out who’s who. “Our personalities are a little bit different,” explains Zvi. “I would sit and talk for hours; he (Jonathan) gets the business done!”

    Both brothers also wait tables. They have two other part-time workers as well. When you dine in the restaurant you can select from the deli fare plus salmon, ribeye, chicken stir fry, lamb chops and a variety of shish kabobs. The most expensive dinner item will run you $23.99. The entire menu is kosher and is certified by the Greater Phoenix Va’ad Hakashruth.

    Zvi says the family business wound up being located in Phoenix by accident. His family was living in New York and his parents typically took a European vacation each summer. But in July 1995 the travel agent made a mistake and sent them to Scottsdale instead. When they arrived it was 120 degrees. Crazy as it sounds, they loved it.

    “When my mom came here she felt great,” Zvi recalls. She told her sons her bones didn’t hurt like they did in New York because of the humidity. It turns out the Valley heat is similar to the dry heat of their native Uzbekistan. The family moved to Arizona in 2003 and opened their first location in 2004.

     Imperial Market and Deli will close early during Passover. Call 602-285-6999 for hours.