Wendy's Deli Celebrates 30 Years On North Fork: 'Quite A Journey'

MATTITUCK, NY — Wendy Zuhoski, owner of Wendy's Deli in Mattituck, has long opened her heart to others, a true pillar of the community and hometown hero who organizes fundraises to help those in need, even delivering endless meals to healthcare workers during the pandemic.

Her legacy is rich on the North Fork and now, Zuhoski is celebrating a significant milestone — Wendy's Deli will mark 30 years in business on Friday.

To celebrate on Friday, she'll be serving up breakfast as usual. Then from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. the deli's "Boar's Head boys, who have been with us for 30 years," will spend time celebrating the day at the deli.

They'll be serving hot dogs and doing lots of giveaways as customers old and new share stories, laughter, and rich memories.

Throughout her 30 years, the deli has always been located in the same spot at 55 Middle Road in Mattituck — a beacon for the hungry, a gathering spot for friends to celebrate the big days and the hard days, to find nourishment, comfort, and always, a shoulder to lean on during the dark times.

Reflecting on how she first launched the business, Zuhoski said she was working at what was then called the Sound Avenue Deli for "someone that was going through a tough time. He was managing the place for the landlord of the entire complex at the time. I decided to reach out to the landlord and see what my options were. He allowed me to work for him for a year and see if I could straighten out the mess it was in. I got through that year. And here we are, 30 years after."

The years have passed in a heartbeat and are colored with longtime friendships and forever bonds.

"I'm not sure where the time went!" Zuhoski said. "But I do know that I have met some pretty amazing people along the way. I have always felt as if it was my social life, not my job. I have worked with, and met, some of my best friends here."

Whenever a community member is in need, Zuhoski has long been the first to step up, organize a raffle, gather donations, opening her heart to care and inspiring others to do the same.

"Most definitely, the most rewarding part is seeing people come together to help," Zuhoski said. "I consider this place a hub. It makes it easy for people to help, whether it be a donation jar on the counter, raffle tickets, T-shirt sales. It's easy to stop in to contribute."

While the years have been filled with the joy of community, the logistics of running a small business have changed since Zuhoski first opened her doors.

"When I started, we had a very short season!" she said. "Back in 1993, our season started Memorial Day weekend and most definitely ended Labor Day. That was it. The winters were tough. You had no idea how you were going to get through. Somehow, we made it — but it wasn't easy."

The difficult challenges, she said, "are now! Short-staffed, unreliable deliveries, zero stability in product, increasing costs in every delivery, decreasing quality in every item. It's a difficult time to run a business. We have always been about consistency, but each day is getting more and more difficult to keep consistent."

And yet, despite challenges, the North Fork community rallies and is a forever source of inspiration, fueling Zuhoski's commitment to her business and to the customers who are woven into the fabric of her life.

"The best thing I can say about the community we live in, is that when someone needs help, they come running. I couldn't ask for a better support system than the people in our town. The local fire departments, the police departments, the restaurants, the other delis, local businesses, we are all a team. We work together. We support each other. That's how we roll."

Looking back on 30 years, Zuhoski smiles as she remembers some of the highlights. "Sweeney days," she said. "Sweeney and I played a lot of practical jokes on each other back in the day." Of her friend, she added, "Sweeney is just Sweeney."

And, too, there have been memories of wrestling in the parking lot, days laced with laughter and love, so much love.

There has been heartache, too. "The friends and customers we have lost over the years, the storms we have gotten through," she said.

But after dark, there has always been light, shining on through "the people we have helped," she said.

And without fail, beside her for 30 years, has been her mother Carol Zuhoski.

"Carol has been making our soups and salads for 30 years. She is the master. Our salads are all homemade," she said.

There are signature menu offerings that have customers lining up day after day, week after week, for generations. "A favorite to most is Carol's cranberry walnut chicken salad. She also makes her signature potato salad, macaroni salad and coleslaw. Old school Polish family salads," she said.

When asked what about her 30 years has been most rewarding, Zuhoski said the people are the center and heart of all she's accomplished.

"The trust that our community has in me makes every day very rewarding. I cannot begin to thank each and every person that has helped me along the way," she said. "Carol has been with me for 30 years, and I consider myself very lucky to have her as a mother and a friend. Thanks to my employees, my customers, my friends, and my family for making it possible to see my dreams come true."

Of her vision for the next 30 years, Zuhoski said simply, "Day by day."

And of the legacy she's built over 30 years of memories and friendships, she added, "It has been quite a journey."