Slicing salami and wrapping sandwiches behind a deli counter, a young worker never guessed she might own the whole place one day. Then her mother stepped in, and together they bought a nearly century-old California deli.
The place opened before anyone’s great-grandparents were teenagers. Now the same counters that once held her as an employee belong to her.
The recipes stayed the same. The regulars came back.
The mother-daughter team kept the ovens warm and the sandwiches stacked. This is a story about keeping a good thing going, about a family that refused to let a landmark fade, and about a young woman who proved that starting at the bottom can lead straight to the top.
It might just make you hungry. It might also make you think about the places you love and who keeps them alive.
Sales usually mark the end. Here, one marked the start.
A Deli Counter With A Big Plot Twist
Plenty of people dream about owning the place where they work, but few actually do it. At Piemonte’s Italian Delicatessen, that dream became a real deal, signed and finished.
The new owner is Madison Lindsey-Martinez, who was just 26 years old when she bought the California deli. She did not jump in as a stranger with a big checkbook.
Before the purchase, Madison worked at Piemonte’s and managed the deli for its previous owners. That means she already knew how the counter ran, how the sandwiches came together, and what made customers return.
She did not take on the job alone, either. Her partner in the purchase is her mother, Julie Catanzarite, who was 60 at the time.
Together, the pair bought the business in January from longtime owners Neil and Nancy Eberwein. It is a mother and daughter team stepping into a story that started back in 1929.
That kind of handoff matters for a business this old. When someone from inside takes over, the habits and recipes have a better chance of staying put.
So if you have ever wondered whether a young person can carry a classic forward, here is your answer. The plot twist is real, and it comes with a sandwich.
Meet The Mother And Daughter Team
Family businesses usually start with a parent and pass down to a child. Here, a mother and daughter are writing a fresh version of that story side by side.
Madison Lindsey-Martinez brings the inside knowledge. Her years at the deli, including time as manager, gave her a close look at daily life behind the counter.
Julie Catanzarite brings a different kind of experience. She has spent many years working in the hospitality industry around Fresno County.
That mix makes a lot of sense for a busy deli. One partner knows this exact shop, and the other knows how to welcome and serve people.
Think about how you would run a lemonade stand with your parent. You might handle the cups while they handle the money, and things go smoother that way.
Of course, a real deli is far bigger than a lemonade stand. Still, the idea of sharing strengths works the same way.
Both owners have said they want to keep the deli’s traditions in place. That promise is a big deal for anyone who has a favorite order.
If you visit, remember you are supporting more than a shop. You are backing a family team that chose to protect a piece of local history instead of starting from scratch.
Where It All Began In 1929
Long before anyone ordered lunch on a phone app, Gino and Olga Porasso opened a deli in downtown Fresno. The year was 1929, and the business would outlast nearly everything around it.
Lawrence “Gino” Porasso came from Northern Italy. He moved to the United States in the early 1900s and first started out with a butcher shop and deli.
The name Piemonte points back to that background. Piemonte is the Italian name for Piedmont, a region in northern Italy.
Gino and Olga did not run things by themselves for long. Their sons, Joe and Lawrence Jr., joined in and helped keep the counter going.
Eventually, Joe and Lawrence Jr. took over the business. They kept it in the family for years before selling in 2001.
Here is a fun way to think about it. The deli opened nearly a century ago, which means it has been slicing meat through radio days, TV days, and now smartphone days.
Very few small businesses stay open that long. Most change names, close, or get replaced by chains.
Knowing this history makes your sandwich feel a little more meaningful. You are eating from a counter that started with one immigrant family and a big hope.
A Move To The Tower District
Businesses move for all kinds of reasons, and this one picked a neighborhood with real personality. Since 1966, the deli has called Olive Avenue in Fresno’s Tower District home.
The Tower District is known for independent restaurants and small shops. That makes it a natural fit for a family deli that never turned into a chain.
Moving from downtown to this spot gave the business a long, steady second chapter. It has now spent decades at the same address.
Staying in one place for that long builds a kind of trust. People know exactly where to find their lunch, year after year.
If you go, plan a little extra time to look around the neighborhood. Small local spots tend to sit close together here, so you can turn lunch into a mini outing.
Parking in busy districts can take some patience. Giving yourself a few spare minutes helps keep the trip stress free.
Google Maps also notes some outdoor space, and a few visitors mention a small eating area outside. That gives you an option if the weather is nice.
The location tells you something about the deli itself. It belongs to its neighborhood, and its neighborhood seems to belong to it.
Unwrapping The Piemonte Special
Some sandwiches are simple, and some read like a full Italian meat lineup. The Piemonte Special definitely belongs in the second group.
According to the menu, it stacks dry salami, cotto salami, chopped ham, and mortadella. Provolone cheese joins the party, along with mayonnaise and mustard.
On top, you get lettuce, tomato, and wax peppers. That is a lot happening between two pieces of bread.
Speaking of bread, you have choices. Sandwiches come on French rolls, sourdough, or wheat bread.
If you are new to Italian cold cuts, this sandwich works like a sampler. You can taste several meats at once and figure out which ones you like most.
Mortadella might be the one you have never tried. It is a large Italian cold cut that comes from the city of Bologna.
Fun fact for your next trivia night. American bologna lunch meat actually takes its name from that same Italian city.
A smart tip is to try the Special on different breads over a few visits. The same fillings can feel different on a sourdough slice versus a French roll.
It carries the shop’s name, so ordering it feels like shaking hands with the deli itself.
Hot Sandwiches And Big Name Combos
Cold cuts get a lot of attention, but the hot side of the menu deserves equal billing. Piemonte’s offers a full lineup of warm sandwiches too.
Hot options include meatball, sausage, roast beef, pastrami, and corned beef. That covers everything from Italian classics to deli counter favorites.
Then come the sandwiches with memorable names. The Michel Angelo and the Spicy Italiano both appear on the menu.
The Michel Angelo shares a name with a famous Italian artist. Ordering one might make you feel a bit like an art critic at lunch.
For something lighter, there is also the Turkey Avocado Swiss. It gives you a break from the heavier Italian meats.
The menu also features many combinations of Italian meats and cheeses. With so many choices, deciding can honestly be the hardest part of the visit.
Here is a useful strategy. Pick one cold sandwich and one hot sandwich, then split them with a friend.
That way you get two very different tastes in one trip. You also learn faster which one becomes your regular order.
Sandwiches show up again and again as the top topic in online reviews. Clearly, plenty of people come here with bread on their minds.
Homemade Sausage And Pasta To Go
Dinner plans falling apart? The deli can rescue your evening with Italian dishes you can carry home.
Piemonte’s is known for its homemade sausage and other homemade Italian items. That ties right back to Gino Porasso’s roots as a butcher.
The pasta to go menu includes lasagna, ravioli, and rigatoni. You can also find spaghetti with meatballs and eggplant parmesan.
These dishes work well when you are feeding a family. Grab a couple of options and let everyone choose.
The eggplant parmesan is a nice pick if someone at your table skips meat. It gives them a hearty Italian dish without feeling left out.
Lasagna also comes up often in online reviews. It seems to be one of the dishes people mention when they talk about more than sandwiches.
For bigger gatherings, the deli offers deli trays too. Those can save you a lot of work before a party or meeting.
A simple tip is to call ahead for larger orders. That gives the team time to get things ready for you.
Takeout and delivery are both available. So even on a lazy night, a taste of this long-running kitchen can reach your table.
Sides, Soups, And Why Tradition Wins
A great sandwich needs a sidekick, and the deli case is ready to help. The side salads include potato salad, tri pasta salad, macaroni salad, and green salad.
There is also a daily soup selection. Since it changes, it is worth asking what is on offer when you arrive.
Some visitors mention that soup can run out later in the day. Showing up earlier gives you a better shot at a bowl.
The deli counter itself is a big part of the experience. Meats and cheeses are sliced right there, so you can take some home for your own sandwiches.
All of this connects to the bigger story. The deli has passed from the Porassos to the Eberweins, and now to a mother and daughter team.
Neil and Nancy Eberwein ran it for almost a quarter century after buying it in 2001. That is a long stretch of keeping things steady.
Now Madison and Julie hold the keys. Their plan is to protect the flavors and habits that carried the deli this far.
Sometimes the boldest move a new owner can make is keeping the good stuff exactly as it is.
Address: 616 E Olive Ave, Fresno, California 93728
