Sol & Sol Deli

Sol & Sol Kosher Delicatessen was a landmark Englewood institution and one of Bergen County’s longest-running kosher delis, serving the community for more than six decades. Founded shortly after World War II, the deli opened in 1947 on West Palisade Avenue before later relocating to East Palisade Avenue, where it became a fixture of downtown Englewood life. Built on Old World Jewish delicatessen traditions, Sol & Sol was known for classic fare such as pastrami sandwiches, corned beef, matzo ball soup, knishes, chopped liver, and traditional salads. For generations of customers, it was not simply a place to eat but a place to reconnect with family memory, cultural heritage, and a style of food rooted in Eastern European Jewish cuisine. The deli was founded by Sol Kaplan, with partners Sol Stein, Sam Plotkin, and Benjamin Rappaport, who helped establish it as a thriving postwar business. Kaplan remained closely associated with the deli for decades and was remembered as the last surviving member of the original ownership group. In 2003, the business was purchased by members of the Geller and Katz families, longtime customers who sought to preserve the deli’s legacy while navigating the changing economics of downtown retail. Over the years, Sol & Sol became emblematic of a disappearing food culture. As consumer tastes shifted and health consciousness increased, traditional kosher delis across New Jersey declined sharply. Sol & Sol adapted where it could, but rising costs and reduced foot traffic ultimately made continued operation unsustainable. Beyond Englewood, the deli achieved a unique place in American popular culture when it was immortalized in an episode of MASH*. In the show, the character Hawkeye Pierce nostalgically dreams of whitefish from Sol & Sol, elevating the modest Englewood deli into a symbol of comfort, memory, and home. The deil was mentioned on the show because Alan Alda, who played Hawkeye lived in Leonia and frequented the deli. In 2010, after more than 60 years in business, Sol & Sol Kosher Delicatessen closed its doors. While the storefront fell silent, its legacy endures in local memory—as a gathering place, a cultural touchstone, and a reminder of Englewood’s once-vibrant Jewish commercial life.