Restaurants & Bars
After 50 Years, Beloved Worcester Eatery To Get New Owners
The business's new owners said that they do not expect any changes to the eatery.
WORCESTER, MA — A longtime deli in Worcester is set to begin its next chapter under new ownership after more than half a century in business.
Pickle Barrel Deli and Restaurant, a longtime Pleasant Street staple, could soon have new owners following a recent licensing approval. The eatery opened in 1975.
Ali Khan and Muhammed Warasat appeared before the Worcester License Commission on Apr. 16 seeking a Common Victualer license to operate the business under EMAAN LLC, doing business as Pickle Barrel Deli.
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The restaurant, located at 305 Pleasant St., has been a steady fixture in Worcester’s dining scene for decades, serving breakfast and lunch to generations of local customers.
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The current owners, Gus and John Giannakis, opened the establishment more than 50 years ago. In 2024, Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis presented the owners with a citation in recognition of five decades in business.
"So honored to present my friends, Gus & John Giannakis, a citation CELEBRATING the 50th Anniversary of Pickle Barrel Restaurant & Deli," Sheriff Evangelidis wrote in a social media post. "These 2 represent the finest in commitment to family, work, and to the community."
The License Commission unanimously approved the ownership transfer. Khan and Warasat told officials that they do not expect major changes to the business and emphasized that they both have prior restaurant experience.
The restaurant will open at 7 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, 6 a.m. on Monday through Friday. It will close at 3 p.m. every day, according to the License Commission agenda.
It is not yet clear when the ownership transition will officially take place. Patch has reached out to the Pickle Barrel for additional comment but has not yet received a response.
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