The Village Deli

HISTORY

The Village Deli is one of Bloomington's older restaurants and is still going strong. The Village Deli first opened in 1979 with the owners David Lockwood and Michael Paxton. But it was then bought in 1999 by Bob Costello, who was a regular at the Village Deli. When he was waiting in line with his son when the waiter told him it was for sale, so in that instant he just decided to buy it. In addition to Village Deli, Bob also owns Soma, and what was previously known as Laughing Planet Cafe. When Bob bought it, it was only a measly 85 seats, but he turned those 85 seats to 221. The artwork that was made by Michael Paxton while they were a b student, is still hanging up today. Also there are many menu items dedicated to the original owners, for example Paxtons Potatoes, or Paxton's Patty Melt. 

ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY

The Village Deli became a really wonderful place when Bob Costello bought the Village Deli in 1999 on Kirkwood Street. Which later became a part of the Kirkwood Community Association. The Kirkwood Community Association was started by Bob Costello during the “big dig," which was a city project made to prevent floods by building drainage systems for stormwater. He created it to make other businesses on Kirkwood work together and help each other's businesses. One thing that makes the Village Deli special is their punny menu item names, such as the “Carmichael Hoagie,” but some things don't have any punny names, like their Cinnamon Roll Pancakes and their Paxton Potatoes. The Village Deli relies on their collaborations like Pizza X, Laughing Planet and the Soma Coffeehouse, as well as the support of the community around them in order to succeed, which they have done for decades now.

Works Cited

1. No Dishes Podcast. ““Village Deli ➡️ Soma ➡️ Laughing Planet ➡️the Ivy = WILD Flexxin’ W/ Bob Costello” | S9E4.” YouTube, 9 Sept. 2025, www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEworNP_KEM.

2. “Village Deli.” Village Deli, 2019, www.villagedeli.biz/. Accessed 4 Dec. 2025.

  “The Village Deli, Eat and Get Out—or Not! - Bloom Magazine.” Bloom Magazine, 26 Feb. 2012, 

www.magbloom.com/2012/02/the-village-deli-eat-and-get-out-or-not/. Accessed 4 Dec. 2025.