New York couple moved to Sheboygan to turn deli dreams into reality
SHEBOYGAN – Husband and wife Paul David and Amanda Weber met in 2009 when they were working together in New York.
The two often had the same lunch break, so they bonded by trying different restaurants. One day, Weber suggested they go to an Italian deli. David loved it, and it set off a light bulb for the budding couple.
With their combined experience in the hospitality industry and David’s entrepreneurial spirit, the two knew they wanted to open a restaurant, but they also knew New York wasn’t the spot.
So Weber — who grew up in Sheboygan Falls — and David moved from New York to Sheboygan about five years ago.
On June 15, their dream became a reality as they opened Arrosto Deli on 13th Street. It’s an Italian-style deli that serves hot pressed sandwiches on Ligurian-style focaccia made in house.
They also make a slow-roasted pork that marinates for 24 hours and cooks for another eight. Weber trained at the Culinary Institute of America in New York and developed the entire menu for Arrosto.
Opening week for the deli went well, Weber said, and the response from the community has been “overwhelmingly positive.”
“We’re really fortunate that people are willing to come out and try our food during this,” she said.
The plan they developed a year ago for the restaurant had a projected opening of this May, and when the pandemic hit, they were worried it would set back their contractors, but it didn’t.
In fact, their opening date got pushed back a month not because of major COVID-19 delays, but small delays and the welcoming of their new baby.
The deli only has two tables inside on opposite sides of the room, with only two chairs each, and is otherwise counter service, which lends itself well to social distancing and other safety precautions.
Having worked in hospitality for almost their entire careers, Weber and David said they know what it’s like to work for wages that are unsustainable and unpredictable. So they are doing something different by offering all employees a starting wage of $15.
“If you work a part-time job, you should still be able to pay your bills,” Weber said.
Weber and David want the deli to have a comfortable atmosphere where customers feel like they could easily come in multiple times a week on a lunch break or just for a quick sandwich.
It’s also a family-run business, so Weber said people may see her walking around the deli with their new baby.
When Weber and David were still piecing together the plan for the deli, they took a walk along the lake by North Point. They sat on a bench and brainstormed a name for their deli.
They settled on Arrosto which is Italian for roast.
Arrosto is located at 1418 N 13th St. in Sheboygan and open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Reach AnnMarie Hilton at ahilton@gannett.com or (920) 242-3032. Follow her on Twitter at @hilton_annmarie.