Honoring Hobby's: Beloved Jewish Deli's Enduring Success Celebrated In Essex County

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — One of the “best Jewish delis in America” has earned yet another bragging right.

On Thursday, city officials presented a proclamation in honor of Hobby’s Delicatessen and Restaurant, a century-old local eatery at 32 Branford Place in Newark.

Hobby’s has been family-owned and operated since 1962 by the Brummer family, establishing itself as an icon among a vibrant culinary scene. The deli pickles its own legendary corned beef in 50-gallon stainless steel vats, and features a menu loaded with potato pancakes, onion rings, hearty homemade soups, and skyscraper-esque sandwiches – as well as vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.

Beyond its food, Hobby’s supports local organizations, the community, and has supported U.S. troops overseas through its “Operation Salami Drop.” Other causes and groups the deli has supported include NJPAC, the Newark Museum of Art, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice, the NJ Devils Youth Foundation, and the Boys and Girls Club of Essex, Hudson and Union.

In 2014, Newark formally designated the intersection of Branford Place and Halsey Street as Hobby’s Plaza in recognition of the Brummer family’s decades of service to the city.

Over its decades in existence, the deli has taken home a cornucopia of awards and praise, most recently being named as the only New Jersey restaurant on a list of the “best Jewish delis in America.”

The eatery has also seen its share of struggles, including a fire that temporarily shut it down in 2019 and a two-year break during the coronavirus pandemic.

Through it all, the regular customers who show up day-in and day-out have proved to be the deli’s lifeblood, according to its owners.

“Hobby's has served the president of the United States, senators, congresspeople, countless local politicians, captains of industry and a bevy of celebrities, but Marc and Michael always maintain that their most important customer are the local residents and businesspeople of the Greater Newark Area who make up our customer base,” the deli’s website says.

• See Related: Newark Eatery Makes List Of ‘Best Jewish Delis In The US’
• See Related: Patch Readers' Choice: Hobby's Voted Top Deli in Newark

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.