Local Deli Set to Close Its Doors

Chips and Deli, a sandwich shop off Route 1, will close its doors at the end of the month, according to Mustufa Abdul Rahman, the business' acting manager.

The reason is the shop's new landlord, Shagga Coffee, has increased rent by 200 percent, Rahman said.

Chips and Deli stands in a building that was a Subway franchise until last November. In January, they reopened their doors as Chips and Deli.

Nancy Mooney, a Riverdale Park resident, liked the sandwich shop so much, she started a e-mail chain on the town's listserv in an effort to promote the business in July. Several residents responded to the chain, touting the business' great sandwiches and large portions.

Mooney said Saturday she liked the restaurant because of its quality and prices.

"The food was delicious," she said. "They really did not charge enough. We had the spicy tuna and never looked back. The homemade chips were outrageously delicious.  The cupcakes – we had the spice cake ones – had a great texture and flavor. It was all as good as I could make at home with a very low price."

When she heard the shop was closing, she said she and her family will miss it.

Riverdale Park is vibrant on Thursday when the Riverdale Park Farmers Market is open in the center of town, but on other days, the town is quite and quaint.

The town center, which hosts a few local businesses, offices and churches on the weekend, remains empty during the week.

With all the development set to come this spring as a part of the EYA development in Hyattsville, the businesses along Route 1 should gain a boost.

Jim Coleman, the coordinator of the farmers market, said businesses in town need find a way to bring in regular customers.

"There's a shoe repair guy on University Boulevard that people from 10 to 15 miles away come to get their shoes repaired," Coleman said.

Yet Mooney said Chips and Deli's location wasn't as convenient and that the lack of seating and parking didn't help.

"That's such a 'dead' strip of road," she said.

Coleman said hopefully with the development on Route 1, local businesses will find a way to attract new residents and meet their needs. He said owners should hand out coupons at the farmers market and engage customers with frequent diner cards and promote their specials.

Mooney said businesses on Route 1 should take advantage of the weekly farmers market and give away free samples and coupons to increase business.

"Even sell their product directly," she said, "especially the chips."