'Deli Guy' Scores Big as Devils' No. 1 Fan

It was about 13 years ago, just after Ron Testa opened "The Deli Guy," that his wife spotted a celebrity sitting down for lunch.

"My wife (Fran) was a hockey fan and she said, 'You know, I think there's a hockey player here,' " Testa recalled.

The player turned out to be New Jersey Devils' rookie defenseman Sheldon Souray, who now plays for the Edmonton Oilers. Many Devils have followed Souray in to make "The Deli Guy'' at 490 Pleasant Valley Way at the corner of Eagle Rock Avenue, part of their daily routine.

The Devils, who trained for many years at South Mountain Arena, would make it a staple of their day to stop for breakfast — before practice — and lunch — after practice. The players became very familiar to Testa and his family, and Testa got to know the players, their wives, and their growing families pretty well.

"I've watched them grow up,'' said Testa, who has lived in West Orange for 30 years.

Testa said he has gotten to know a few of the team very well. Players such as Pat Elias and Jay Pandolfo, retired greats Scott Stevens and Joe Nieuwendyk and former Devil Scott Gomez.

"Patty Elias, the first time I met him, he was a rookie — that kid is a classy kid,'' Testa said.

The Devils have won two Stanley Cups in the time that Testa has had his business. In 2000, the Devils beat the Dallas Stars for the championship and not long after the thrilling finish, Testa got a phone call from one of the players, informing him to be ready for a lot of business the following Monday.

"He actually called me from the airport,'' said Testa. "He said we're coming over and we're hungry.''

Testa said true to the player's word, he was joined by about 20 teammates after they arrived back in New Jersey to eat lunch. In 2003, Nieuwendyk brought in the Stanley Cup for everybody to see.

Since the team moved their game and practice sites to Newark a few years ago, the visits haven't been as frequent, but some of the players do still drop in. Actor James Gandolfini, well known for his role as Tony Soprano, has also come in for a pastrami sandwich on rye.

"It was cool, I'd see them in the morning for breakfast and after practice for lunch,'' Testa said. "They would give me tickets when they played at the Meadowlands. We would sit with their wives, children and girlfriends.''

The Deli Guy is open six days a week. Hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The store is closed Sundays.