In 1979, Marc Katz hit the food scene off of West 6th street with a restaurant and bar he called Katz's Deli. I was in high school the year that it opened and the food was great. I had gone there on and off for many years. When Netroots Nation came to Austin in 2008, Wolfman and I had the plesure of taking several attendees there for lunch and they loved the food and the atmosphere. Like many here in Austin, we thought Katz's would be here forever. Then the news hit me like a ton of bricks!!
Katz's Deli will close on January 2nd, 2011. It was a heart wrenching decision, but he had to make it.
(News video and transcript from KVUE Channel 24, our ABC affliate):
"(It was a) difficult decision, but once I made it, it was a happy day," he said.
Katz says initially landlord issues and a lack of parking were factors. Katz says parking has become a problem at the current location. He used to own a couple of buildings right next door and that parking was used for his restaurant customers, but that's no longer the case.
He filed for bankruptcy back in July. At the time, court records showed the business owned more than $121,000 dollars in taxes, and $56,000 dollars to vendors and employees. However, Katz says the main reason he's closing his deli is, at his age, it is simply it's time to call it quits.
"I feel like rather than being like Brett Favre and waiting to leave until it's too late," he said.
Until he made his announcement, he was considering moving to a new location, but he decided to shut it down for good and movve on to other things.
Marc Katz had two unsuccesful runs for political office. In 2003, he ran for Mayor of Austin but lost to Wil Wynn. Earlier this year, he ran in the democratic primary for lieutenant governor, but lost to Linda Chavez-Thompson.
Eating at Katz's Deli was not cheap. The food was good, but very pricey. Your bill could run up to around $40.00 for two people. But now, with the way things are moneywise, people have stopped going out.
The loss of Katz's Deli will not only be cultural, but financial as well. All of his current staff will be out of work after the New Year. And how he'll settle his bankruptcy is still unknown.
I wish i could go to Katz's one last time before it shuts down for good, but it's most likely we will not be able to afford it. I will miss it.
Thanks Marc for 31 years of good times and great food.