Serving five generations of Washingtonians, Wagshal’s Family of Fine Foods is thrilled to announce the expansion of its original Massachusetts Avenue flagship location and the opening of its full service restaurant. By adjoining to a neighboring space at the Spring Valley shopping center, the legendary delicatessen has enlarged its square footage from 1650 to 2800 square feet, and has opened a full service family style dining area.
The newly added addition conveys the delicatessen’s original 1930s architecture from top to bottom including a replication of its original diamond texture ceiling and restoration of original hardwood flooring from 1938. The expansion provides customers more room to shop for a greater selection of specialty food items and provides an additional counter for ordering the freshly prepared carry-out foods that Wagshal’s is renown for serving.
And now, there is seating. The full service restaurant can be accessed through the historic delicatessen as well as from the Yuma Street side entrance. A four season retractable glass enclosure was used to create the dining space which also provides customers al fresco dining during beautiful weather.
Customers may continue to carry-out prepared food or may now choose to sit down and order off the new restaurant’s menu. Now there is a greater selection items available for dine in or carry-out. New at Wagshal’s:
- Pizza, Calzones, Pita Sandwiches, Salads and House-Made Gelato
- A Wider Selection of Prepared Foods To Go Such As Lentil Salad, Curried Chicken Salad, Cornish Game Hens, Grilled Vegetables, Lasagna and Eggplant Parmesan
- Twice as Much Cheese and Charcuterie
- More Dry Goods, Grocery Items and Broader Selection of Sweets
- 40 percent More Alcohol and Wine
- Full Service Dining for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Since 1990, Wagshal’s has been in the caring hands of Bill Fuchs and his family.This year marks Wagshal’s 90th anniversary. To honor this milestone, Fuchs says, “We have brought Wagshal’s back to its original roots of being a community gathering spot like it once was; that was before Mr. Wagshal got rid of the restaurant’s seating.” Fuchs tells a quick story of history behind Washington’s beloved deli, stating, “Years ago, Sam Wagshal got rid of the seats one day because he could not find reliable help.”
Today, at Wagshal’s there are some very long time employees, including Marie Duval, who just celebrated 40 years with the company. Fuchs remarks, “We have been very fortunate to have people like Maria as part of the Wagshal’s family helping to make Wagshal’s what it is today, and we have been very fortunate to have served so many customers in our community over the years.”
Now Wagshal’s can provide the community with even more. Proudly, Fuchs adds, “After all these years, Wagshal’s customers can sit and gather once again.”
Wagshal’s original founder, Sam Wagshal, opened his doors in 1925 to provide quality sandwiches to his community. Unbeknownst to the restaurateur, 90 years later his namesake delicatessen would not only remain intact, still serving quality sandwiches to the local community, but would become a Washington, D.C. landmark steeped in rich history, while still family owned and operated. Fuchs bought the business from Sam’s son Ben and his wife Lilian with one promise; that he would keep the delicatessen true to its roots and keep the doors open to provide quality food for the neighborhood. Fuchs has kept his word, not only keeping Wagshal’s entrenched within the community, but has also extended the reach of the Wagshal’s brand to a national level with its award winning imports division’s products that are receiving national recognition.
The love of food and neighborhood are the common denominators behind Bill Fuchs and his vision for his rapidly expanding Spring Valley food empire. Under his leadership, today the Wagshal’s Family of Fine Foods company portfolio includes the original historic delicatessen with its recent expansion and new restaurant, the newly opened Pittmasters Back Ally BBQ, Wagshal’s On New Mexico, Wagshal’s Imports, Wagshal’s Old World Market & Butcher Shop, Wagshal’s Bakery, Spring Valley Catering, Spring Valley Frozen Meals and other off-premise food outlets.
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