Dixon Street Deli closes with sadness after almost 100 years

Wednesday, 27 September 2023

Owner-operator Ari Chait, the third generation of his family to run the deli, says he is too sad to talk about the closure of the business.

After having presence in some form for nearly 100 years, Dixon Street Deli – described as a “complete Wellington institution” – has closed its doors.

Ari Chait, who has run the family-owned deli and cafe since 2000, did not want to speak when contacted by The Post because he was sad about leaving. The premises were being packed up on Wednesday.

His grandfather, a Polish migrant, first opened a poultry shop at the location in 1930. Chait’s parents took over in 1974 and made the business a delicatessen, where they introduced New Zealand to the bagel.

Two months ago, Chait spoke about the challenges the deli was facing, including “record prices”.

The Dixon Street Deli is closed after almost 100 years.

The council’s changes to Dixon St, including the removal of car parks and changes to loading zones, were making it hard for retailers, he said. The area was “dead” and needed more stimulation.

The owners of Babaili Hot Pot Restaurant in Johnsonville is opening a new eatery on the site, selling Malatang — a type of Chinese street food.

Ari Chait earlier warned the removal of car parking and vehicle access could be the nail in the coffin for the third generation business

Although the deli will close, Chait will continue to run Zaida’s – a wholesale bakery which supplies businesses with bread, bagels and pastry.

Local councillor Nicola Young could remember visiting Charlie Chait’s original poultry business to buy chicken and eggs when she was a child — back then it was the only place to get fresh chicken.

“It’s part of Wellington’s history … It was a foodie destination before there were foodie destinations.”

Iona Pannett, another city councillor and long-time Te Aro resident, said she was shocked and saddened to hear about the deli closing. It was her go-to brunch spot in the city.

The location of the new FreshChoice supermarket, on Cuba St.

“Dixon Street Deli is a complete Wellington institution. It brought us an amazing new style of food at a time when it wasn’t available anywhere else in the city,” she said.

“I just want to thank them. They do what they do very well.”

As one inner-city business closes, another opens. A new FreshChoice supermarket will open at the top of Cuba St in December, at a site on the corner with Abel Smith St.

Tim Cartwright, franchise general manager for Woolworths, said the new supermarket would open in December and be a “modern hub owned and operated by passionate locals who are deeply committed to supporting our community”.

The supermarket would provide dozens of jobs, Cartwright said.

It is will be the 45th FreshChoice supermarket in New Zealand. Over the next six months, Woolworths plans to open a further 30.

Unofficial mayor of Cuba St, Roger Young from Fidel’s, was happy to see the site filled and hoped it would bring more people out in the inner city.

The cafe had been surrounded by a few empty sites, including the former Laundry Bar premises for at least a year, which “brings down the rest of the street”.

“Personally, I think it’s great to have a small supermarket at that end of town. I just hope it doesn’t affect the little dairy across the road.”

Pannett was not so happy about the supermarket, saying the beauty of Cuba St was its independent shops. “Otherwise it becomes like a shopping mall.”