Landmark Deli Files For Bankruptcy; Ex-Cherry Hill Owner Wants To Revive It

CHERRY HILL, NJ — The Kibitz Room in Cherry Hill has filed for bankruptcy, but the former owner says he wants to restore it.

The Cherry Hill deli has been closed since late January. There has been no announcement explaining the closure or whether it's permanent, sparking fears from diners that one of South Jersey's best-known delis is gone for good.

The business filed for bankruptcy protection on Friday, seeking to liquidate its assets, according to federal court documents.

But the former owner, who now operates the Kibitz Room's other location, says he wants to restore the deli in Cherry Hill.

Neil Parish purchased the Kibitz Room from deli legend Russ Cowan in 2003. His ex-wife, Sandy, assumed ownership when the couple split up in 2016, Neil told Patch.

Their son, Brandon Parish, worked at the deli until early last year, when Brandon and Neal developed a second Kibitz Room in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. The locations operate separately.

Kibitz Room in Cherry Hill closed late last month, with no word from the business on the nature of the closure. 42 Freeway first reported on the closure.

The deli's listed phone numbers have been disconnected, and Google currently says the eatery is permanently closed.

But Neil Parish told Patch he wants to get it back up and running.

"Simply, my ex-wife had the store. She closed it," Neil told Patch. "Right now, my son and I are dealing with the landlord, so we hope to reopen in a week to two."

It's unclear how the business filing may impact those plans.

The Kibitz Room filed a petition for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which would allow the business to liquidate its assets. A virtual hearing is scheduled for March 3.

Patch's efforts to contact Sandy have been unsuccessful as of this writing. Patch messaged Kibitz Room of Cherry Hill on social media, but nobody from the business has responded as of this writing.

Before Kibitz Room, there was Springdale Deli. Cowan purchased the Cherry Hill deli in 2000 and renamed it Kibitz Room.

Three years later, Cowan sold Kibitz Room to Neil Parish. Cowan went on to operate Philadelphia's Famous 4th Street Delicatessen for the next two decades before founding Radin's Delicatessen in Cherry Hill in 2024.

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The Kibitz Room has been one of the best-known Jewish delis in the region, becoming known for its massive pastrami and corned beef sandwiches, homemade matzo ball soup and pickle bar. They also created the "Jewish Cheesesteak," which contains brisket, coleslaw, Russian dressing and pepper jack cheese.

But for now, Cherry Hill is without one of its most popular restaurants.

"It was too good to the community and vice versa for 20-something years," Neil said. "It's ridiculous. It (the closure) never should have happened."

42 Freeway first reported Kibitz Room's closure, and The Philadelphia Inquirer broke news of the bankruptcy.