Deli By Day Music Venue By Night? Yes! It's a Hit

Carmines Deli in Elmsford, NY risked a big idea and won. Besides serving up terrific food they also decided to serve up fabulous live music on the weekends. Despite your original confusion in your head trying to imagine it, let me just tell you it’s very cool. In fact, it’s my bet that that Carmines Deli going to become a N.Y. area destination night out to hear live music.

There's something special about going out to hear live music. Just lifts you up, right? So, here’s how I found out about it.

One recent Friday afternoon my sista buddy “Mo’ who lives nearby texted me this message. “Let's go see some music up at Carmine's Deli”. I was like, what the hell are you talking about? You want me to go see music tonight at a deli? “Yes”, she said, “It’s great Johnny Feds and the Blues Boys are playing. Foods great too.” While trying to imagine in my head what kind of deli would all of a sudden become a live music venue that would feel normal, I start to google Carmine's Deli and music and pulled up an article that was written by my friend a local food reporter Jeanne Muchnick on LoHud.com. After reading all about it, I decided it sounded fun.

 My boyfriend Dave loves music. He's a passionate aficionado and he's kind of a snob about it too. He likes musicians and people who love the art of it. I figured he’d love it too since I read this place is all about the music, and they just happen to have a deli that serves great food too. I read these were passionate music guys who are creating a community hub for live music that’s not only bringing in big names, but also encouraging some of the up-and-coming artists.

What could be wrong with this idea? NOTHING. It’s a hit.

 Boy, was I surprised when we walked into a packed house where everyone was partying, eating and drinking and fully enjoying the kick ass band jamming on stage. Yes, Carmines Deli has their own music stage, cool lighting and drums.  

 Owner Robert Venuti who makes all the delicious food plays sax and harmonica and sings and dances when he performs with his band The Surf. He joined me in the radio studio along with his partner in crime on this big idea, Joe Palumbo. Joe who’s the Music Director and heads up Marketing, spent years in the music business. He’s tapping into his network of well-known musicians to come play. Guys like Milo Z whose high energy NYC Funk Band is known for tight grooves and funky dance moves. And guys like guitarist Alex Skolnick. They also just featured a special group of Women Who Rock. We were totally in awe the night we went of the sheer level of talent of Johnny Feds and Da Bluez Boys.

I always like to know how a new idea is born. So, who came up with the idea to turn the deli into a music club at night?

 Robert says it wasn't just a meeting where they sat down and came up with the idea. “I always loved music; I like to play music. Yes, I’m a sax player and a harmonica player but mainly I’m a singer and dancer. I love the James Brown stuff. I'm at that deli 98 hours a week anyway. It's a big spot. So, my friends would come down on Friday nights, and just play like Neil Young songs." And of course, the guys would get hungry, and Rob would cook up some great food.

 “And then it just evolved, evolved, evolved up and down”, said Rob. “And then Joe comes in on a recommendation from the bass player in my band, The Surf. And we got to know each other. They wanted me to hire a guy, and two weeks later he wants to be my partner.”

 Joe Palumbo too at first thought music in a deli was kind of kooky idea.

 “When my friend Rich, who's the bass player in Robert’s band The Surf said, come let's go hear some music in a deli. I had the same reaction you had. Rich had been trying to get me to come down. Rich had worked with me when I had a company called Rock House, and that's where I was in the music business, and we used to throw big parties in LA with a lot of famous musicians, and they used to come as friends. Rich would come in and help me out, make sure people didn't steal other people's gear. I said Rich, I can't, like, you know, it's a deli. I couldn't get my head around it. “

 “So, the first time I went there, I pulled up and I was like, maybe they're in the back in a garage, you know, and then II walked in and I was like, wow, this is kind of cool. I could bring a date here. I went to two nights, and I think Rich said, you gotta meet Rob and I think he told Rob, Joe's the guy. Together you guys can make this take off. “

 Joe met Rob and instantly loved him. 

"I really didn't want anything. I was thinking, hey, I'll come out a couple nights a week, I'll get out of the house. Now I think it's just really taken off. I think Rob and I have built a solid, not just business relationship, but really a personal relationship. Rob has created a family there, and that's what I was all about.”

 Rob says, “We're a place that does music and has food, not a food place that has music”.

 “The deli is basically a mirror of what it was for me growing up and that was six kids, mother, father and Italian grandmother who lived with us, and we never went out to dinner. Went out once somewhere in Scarsdale and my grandmother was so mad. I know every curse word in Italian because I was called it. She had five boys and she also she lived with her youngest son which was my father and we had always had 12-13 people every single night. Homemade meals and there was a lot of music in my family. My uncle Joe played violin at Carnegie Hall, and he knew every instrument and he knew and hung out with Cab Calloway who lived right up the street. Every night there was singing and there was eating. Music is in my veins.”

 Rob always opens the music night on the deli stage with a little speech.

 “I always say, you know it's not about you, it's not about me, it's about us. It brings everybody together from the beginning of the show. It's a beautiful gift to be able to share it. And we want to embrace that it is a deli. I tell everybody yes; it is a real deli. There's a deli counter and everything you’d expect in a deli. But everybody sits at a table, and everybody sits together.”

Joe said a big part of the music plan is to provide opportunity. For example, Carmines Deli is working with guys Dennis Polanco at the White Plains High School Songwriters Club. Dennis teaches about 70 kids, some of them at-risk kids, and he’s teaching them how to write their own music. Carmines Deli invites them to try out their craft in real time and they get exposure to professional music industry talent. 

 Joe says, “Once a kid gets up on that stage and is playing in front of people, the next week their confidence is up 100%.”

 Carmines has also established relationships with The Hudson Valley Blues Society, The Westchester Bluegrass Society and The White Plains School of Rock. Their upcoming Big O Series features four nights, eight bands, all their own original music.

If you go to Carmines Deli to hear some great music, you’re going to get a great dinner meal, not a deli sandwich. It's a cafe menu with very reasonable prices. The main act is the eggplant rollatini. They make two, three cases a week. The marinara sauce is the marinara sauce Rob grew up on as is his Chicken Scarpariello. You could do a night there for under a hundred bucks with four people. Yes, wine and beer are on the menu. I had red wine and an awesome eggplant mozzarella & roasted peppers wrap and rocked out with an amazing band. I left full and with a smile. You should go.

Carmines Deli 7 Old Road Elmsford, NY.   Find them on FB or Instagram Music@TheDeli

Robert Venuti and Joe Palumbo brought some good energy to the radio studio and I hope you enjoy listening to this podcast of our live radio conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show.