{"id":278845,"date":"2026-06-26T12:47:24","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T12:47:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/278845\/"},"modified":"2026-06-26T12:47:24","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T12:47:24","slug":"locals-deli-seeks-to-stay-rooted-in-woodside-after-difficult-opening-qns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/278845\/","title":{"rendered":"Locals Deli seeks to stay rooted in Woodside after difficult opening \u2013 QNS"},"content":{"rendered":"

A new deli in Woodside<\/a> aiming to provide an elevated deli experience through a commitment to fresh ingredients is considering closing down after a difficult opening three months on 48th Avenue.<\/p>\n

Locals \u2013 A Woodside Deli<\/a> opened its doors at 47-02 48th Ave. in March, promising to bring deli cuisine \u201cmade with passion\u201d to the neighborhood.<\/p>\n

The store, opened by long-time Sunnyside resident Joseph Cruz and his business partner Will Ortiz, offers a range of made-from-scratch specialty and fusion deli items that reflect the diversity of the local community, offering Dominican street burgers called chimis, chicken sandwiches, chopped cheeses, Creole-style tenders and hot dogs.<\/p>\n

\"AA chicken sandwich at Locals Deli. Photo by Shane O\u2019Brien<\/p>\n

Cruz, a self-described foodie, said the deli is inspired by open-kitchen restaurants where customers can see chefs at work, adding that he endeavored to allow customers to see the grill at Locals.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn your average deli, you cannot see the grill. The counter is always so high up,\u201d Cruz said. \u201cI\u2019m a New Yorker, I\u2019m always going to a deli to get my local bacon, egg and cheese\u2026 but I want to see it. I want to see you make my bacon, egg and cheese.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"PhotoPhoto by Shane O\u2019Brien<\/p>\n

He also vowed to use fresh, local produce, including bread from Astoria bakery Rose & Joe\u2019s and meat from the Butcher Block in Sunnyside and Steinway Meat Market in Astoria.<\/p>\n

\u201cNone of our meat is frozen,\u201d Cruz said. \u201cWe\u2019re not going to any restaurant depot to get the meat, we\u2019re getting it straight from local butchers.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

The deli also employs a fully-qualified cook, Cruz added.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can taste the difference here, like you can taste that our steak sandwich is not your typical grocery store steak sandwich.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\"\"\n<\/p>\n

But despite that commitment to quality and innovation, Locals has found the going tough since opening in the neighborhood due to a lack of consistent foot traffic, so much so that Cruz is already considering shuttering the store and potentially moving to a new location.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re hoping we don\u2019t have to leave,\u201d Cruz said. \u201cBut maybe we chose the wrong location\u2026 we submitted a trademark for the brand, so if we decide to sell the location, we\u2019re going to go ahead and move down the avenue or closer to the 7 train.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added that both he and Ortiz \u201clove\u201d the Locals brand, stating that the name is a riff on the classic musical \u201cWest Side Story.\u201d
\n\"JosephJoseph Cruz and Will Ortiz. Photo by Shane O\u2019Brien\n<\/p>\n

Locals will soon pivot to what Cruz described as \u201cpoke bowls with a Caribbean twist\u201d in the coming weeks in a last attempt to drive business up, stating that the deli will soon begin offering a variety of steak and chicken platters alongside its diverse sandwich menu.<\/p>\n

Cruz also credited the local Sunnyside Shines Business Improvement District (BID) for its support since opening. In turn, Dirk McCall de Palom\u00e1, the BID\u2019s executive director, described Locals as \u201cone of the best additions to the neighborhood in years.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Locals opened three months ago, Cruz said, business was booming, but business has steadily declined since.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWe put a special on social media and maybe two people respond,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re going to go ahead and give it one last shot (before deciding to relocate).\u201d\n<\/p>\n