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While John Burr and his family were in the throes of renovations for their new deli, the kids from Melborne Road Extension, just around the corner, were composing a wish list. The following letter was left in the store's mailbox prior to the opening of JB's Deli and Pizza in Norwalk.
"Dear People: We cant wait until you open. We are so excited to have you in our neighborhood! We would like to make some suggestions for items in demand from the neighbors. The adults would like (more like love): beer and wine, deli sandwiches, fresh bread, fresh milk, eggs, breakfast sandwiches, fresh coffee. The kids would LOVE: candy and gum, ice cream (soft) and popsicles, whipped cream, beef jerky, slushies, Gatorade, bagels and cream cheese. Love, The Kids from the Melborne Road Extension (Dead End)."
The days of the corner store, when Moms would send their kids down the block with a dollar in hand to pick up a quart of milk may be relegated to Saturday Evening Post status, but Burr is trying to bring that small-town, country store feel back with his new Tierney Street venture.
The space was occupied for decades as the dual-named Tierney Street Deli and Brus Homerun Deli and was known for amazing prepared foods (their heavenly sausage rolls were the stuff of legend) and deli sandwiches. Burr, a Norwalk native who worked for Bru's as a high school kid, plans to offer much the same and more. Though the store has been in operation for several weeks, he and his family celebrated their grand opening on Sunday June 13, with a special ribbon cutting ceremony and a clown, balloons, cotton candy, hot dogs, and popcorn for the kids.
As for the kids from Melborne Road, their requests have not been taken lightly and their letter is headed to the framer to be posted in the store. "We've got almost everything on their list," said the genial Burr amidst a mob tof well-wishers. "I'm still working on getting the beer for the adults, and I don't have Cool Whip, which was the brand of whipped cream they asked for, but I've pretty much got the rest covered." JB's will offer Boar's Head sandwiches, Baronet coffee, ice cream, and thin crust pizza in addition to staple grocery items.
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