1 Genova Deli Remains After Last East Bay Site Closes Today

BAY AREA, CA — One of the last remaining locations of the family-run Genova Deli, known for its Italian sandwiches and century-old East Bay roots, will close today.

The closing won't be the first — or probably the last. But that is cold comfort for fans of Genova's downtown Walnut Creek location — some of whom received emails announcing the closing. Others received the news from a notice posted on the deli's front door at 1105 S. California Blvd.

The business, which has operated in the city for 58 years, earned a spot on the San Francisco Chronicle’s list of best restaurants and is beloved for its marinated artichokes, boxes of ravioli, and classic Italian sandwiches.

Nevertheless, the California Boulevard deli shuttering follows the closure of Genova’s other Walnut Creek location on Treat Boulevard in November, according to reports.

In a newsletter announcing the closure, the company cited “increasing economic challenges” and thanked generations of customers for their loyalty, according to reports.

While the Walnut Creek storefronts are closing, the deli’s ravioli factory will remain open and continue supplying local stores, according to the store. The sole remaining location is in Napa.
Genova Deli traces its origins to 1926 in Oakland.

After the original Oakland location closed in 2016, longtime fans lined up for a final Italian combo sandwich, according to reports.

And, while not universally adored, Walnut Creek Genova Deli patrons are now experiencing a similar nostalgia, pouring out their memories and favorites on social media.

"So many memories getting sandwiches here. Living in WC in high school and getting sandwiches after school," a long-time customer said on Facebook.

"The End of an ERA!! When I lived in 'The Creek', I would go there often, the focaccia, the ambrosia salad, the iconic sandwiches," a woman reminisced.

However, the most common response is a simple, "Noooooo."