Upper West Side Pastrami Queen To Become a Chinese Deli?

By Gus Saltonstall

Since the end of March, Pastrami Queen’s Upper West Side location on West 72nd Street, between Amsterdam and Columbus, has been closed “due to renovations.”

Within the last few days, though, a new sign has gone up on the storefront, announcing “Deli Chin — Home Of The Pastrami Egg Roll!”

There are also multiple work permit signs from the Department of Buildings on the storefront, including one for an alteration that includes “Renovation of eating and drinking establishment. Partition work. Finishes.”

Pastrami Queen did not immediately respond to West Side Rag’s request for comment on the future of the eatery at the location.

Much about the situation remains unclear, including whether Deli Chin would be a venture from Pastrami Queen ownership or a new ownership group, but the sign does indicate that pastrami will be sold in some capacity.

Pastrami Queen sells pastrami egg rolls at all of its locations.

The Rag also did not find any existing Deli Chin outlets on the Upper West Side or in New York City.

When Pastrami Queen announced the Upper West Side location’s shuttering in March, it described it as a “temporary closure,” and a representative told West Side Rag that the plan at that time was to “reopen as soon as the repairs are complete.” There was no mention of a Deli Chin.

When the Rag visited the location on Monday, construction workers were flowing in and out of the storefront, and it was clear that extensive work had taken place inside. The workers turned down requests from the Rag for more information.

The Rag will update this story when we are able to find out more.

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