Al & Joe's Deli began it's history in 1960

Aldo Conforti and my father, Joseph Gapastione, two boyhood friends, from the old Italian neighborhood of Halsted & Kedzie in Chicago, decided to take a chance and opened a small grocery store.

Al & Joe's Deli began it's history in 1960. Aldo Conforti and my father, Joseph Gapatione, two boyhood friends, from the old Italian neighborhood of Halsted & Kedzie in Chicago, decided to take a chance and opened a small grocery store.

Al, an Elevator Operator (he called himself a Vertical Engineer) and my father Joe, a Bricklayer both kept working their daytime jobs until they could get their small grocery store & deli up and running well enough to support two families full time. 

What started as your corner store, soon became s Sub Sandwich Deli. Al tells the story of how they started making sandwiches. On a hot summer day, around lunch time, business was slow, Al decided to make himself a sandwich on the fresh Gonnella bread that was just delivered. He sat outside the door and was eating when a truck driver pulled up and asked if he could get a sandwich made. Well being the business man that Al was, he said "sure, why not". As they say the rest is history. Unfortunately, after 47 years, and due to illness, Al & Joe decided to retire.

A New Generation

In May of 1997, I decided to buy the business from my Dad & Uncle, and with my two children, Gia & Michael, another era of Al & Joe's began. Some changes were made, such as a Dining Room, additions to the menu, and daily specials. What will never change is the quality and the customer first tradition my Dad & Uncle maintained for so many years.