MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – After over 50 years of serving homemade Italian food, Ralph’s Deli in Ishpeming will be closing for good at the end of September due to the retirement of the owner. News 19 spoke to owner Bruno Gervasi, who said the decision to close was very difficult to make. The Gervasi family has been serving Italian fare since the 1950s. Founder and namesake Ralph Gervasi started his famous deli in downtown Ishpeming and after moving to several locations, ended up at their current place in 1986. Bruno Gervasi, Ralph’s son, said the time had come to retire. Gervasi chose to close rather than sell it, to keep Ralph’s cuisine true to his father’s high standards. Over the years Ralph’s cudighi has won multiple awards, with customers routinely buying the Italian sausage in bulk and even shipping it to friends and family across the country. Ralph’s last day will be Monday, September 30th.
Here is the letter Gervasi posted on Ralph’s website.
Dear friends, employees, and customers,
It is with sincere gratitude and a heavy heart that we announce the closing of Ralph’s Italian Deli on September 30th, 2024. The decision was not made lightly. The Gervasi family has been serving homemade food to this community for over 50 years. It’s simply time for retirement. It’s an emotional decision and we are so sad to say goodbye!
I would like to thank our staff, past and present, for helping us provide so many wonderful experiences for our customers over the years. It is rare to find such a committed, hardworking, and friendly staff anywhere. I have been fortunate enough to employ some incredible people who have become more like family than employees. Thank you for your dedication, love, and tremendous efforts.
I would like to give huge thanks to our customers, we are grateful for your continued support and loyalty. It has been an honor to serve you over the past five decades and I can’t imagine dedicating my life to anything else. You are the reason for our success, and we are honored to have served you all this time. Generations of families have come through our doors. You’ve trusted us with some of your most treasured events: graduation parties, wedding receptions, funerals, and birthday dinners. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
We will continue to supply our homemade products through our last day of operation. We will be open on Sunday, Sept. 29th, and Monday, Sept. 30th from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. Please call now to reserve large quantities of cudighi, Italian sausage, meatball mix, sauces and any other homemade products. We will be offering great deals on our shelf inventory and meats & cheeses over the next two weeks. Please feel free to ask for me while shopping.
With my most sincere gratitude and appreciation, thank you and God bless.
Bruno Gervasi
