Andy

[Swayin]

If you've been a student at Carolina anytime in literally the last 50 years, this news may hit you hard: Andy Schlon, of Andy's Deli fame in Five Points, has passed. He was beloved by students, and always had a hearty "Hello my friend!" for literally every customer who ever came in the door ... my wife is near tears, and we were last on campus as students in 1987.

https://www.wistv.com/2021/01/15/owner-andys-deli-dies-local-leaders-express-sadness-over-loss-columbia-icon/

 

[Swayin]

Certainly an icon to students of my generation because he was so nice to us when we stumbled into his place for a late bite, three sheets to the wind, after a night out in 5 Points.

 

[Homebrewcock]

When my friend sent me a text about this, I couldn't believe it.  Such a wonderful man that truly loved his customers and city.  He will be missed and I hope his family finds peace knowing how much he was loved and how much he meant to the city of Columbia and the University. 

RIP my friend. 

Here is a link to a great video with Andy telling some of his story.

https://www.imdb.com/video/vi550610713

 

[Spur's Addiction]

Andy's deli was great. Whatever happened to the guy that had the Hot dog tent with the hot dogs, corn dogs, and chicken sandwiches. Was it Franks?

 

[kingofnerf]

The Lebanon Andy emigrated here from was a very violent place in the 1970s and 80s.  It is no surprise he loved Columbia compared to that.

There were a decent amount of immigrant-owned businesses downtown when I lived and worked there after finishing college in 1980s.  There was a very good Chicago-style hot dog place on one of the cross-streets off of N. Main and a Portuguese tailor I did business with on N. Main as well.  Then there was also a tight-knit pocket of Iranian ex-pats who came here after the Shah was overthrown.

Then you had Drake's Duck-in, the annual Greek festival by the church with all the good food that everyone who worked downtown always looked forward to.

I had to work on Saturdays back then, so I rarely frequented Andy's during the weekend, but I was a regular at Frank's for the outstanding breakfast before heading to work uptown in the mornings. Everybody talks about the hot dogs, but their platters with grits were off the hook, man, and I ate there for breakfast 2-3 times a week.  It was like a traditional urban diner in the mornings.  

The business between the neighborhoods around Five Points and the local restaurants was pretty good back then.  Good times.