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Under new stewardship, this 100-year-old Queen Village deli still honors the original legacy
There’s a particular kind of warmth that hits you when you step inside Famous 4th Street Delicatessen. Maybe it’s the steam rising from a bowl of matzo ball soup, or the unmistakable aroma of pastrami that’s been smoking since dawn. But more than anything, it’s the feeling that you’ve entered a place where history isn’t just remembered - it’s still being made, one hand-sliced sandwich at a time.
For Al Gamble, who took ownership of the iconic Queen Village deli in February 2024, the decision wasn’t just about acquiring a business - it was about continuing a legacy that started long before he ever walked through its doors. “Deli culture has been a part of my life since I was seven,” Al says. “I remember sitting in New York delis with my stepfather, Steven—stacked sandwiches, warm soup, that sense of belonging. It left a mark on me.”
So when the chance came to take the reins of Famous 4th Street Delicatessen - an institution that’s fed Philadelphians since 1923 - Al knew it was more than the right opportunity. It was a homecoming of sorts. A way to honor the memories that shaped him, and to preserve a piece of the city’s soul.
In an age of pop-ups and Instagram-ready trends, Famous 4th Street stands quietly, proudly apart. It’s not flashy. It doesn’t need to be. What makes it special isn’t a gimmick, but a commitment—to craftsmanship, to consistency, and to the kind of hospitality that’s getting harder to find.
The pastrami? Smoked in-house for eight hours and sliced by hand. The corned beef? Brined and slow-cooked the old-fashioned way. Every matzo ball is made from scratch, and every cookie baked fresh—especially the soft, perfectly glazed Black & Whites that line the deli’s bakery case like edible memories. It’s food that’s honest. Familiar. And full of feeling.
“We’re not trying to modernize a landmark,” Al says. “We’re trying to make sure it’s still here for the next generation, unchanged in all the ways that matter.”
Of course, preserving a legacy isn’t just about keeping recipes intact. It’s about protecting the experience - the feeling of walking into a space that knows who it is, and welcomes you like it’s known you just as long. That means honoring rituals and routines, like the local police officer who still stops in for lunch three or four times a month. He’s been a regular for decades - long before he wore a badge. As a kid, he’d sneak around the back door, where someone would always hand him a warm cookie. No words. Just tradition.
“That’s the kind of history you can’t buy or build overnight,” Al says. “It comes from years of doing things the right way—of treating people like family.”
Earning the trust of those longtime regulars was one of the deli’s biggest early challenges. Al and his team knew they couldn’t waver: the recipes had to stay. The feel had to stay. The soul had to stay.
And yet, running a century-old institution in a changing world brings new challenges. Rising food and labor costs, shifting dining habits, and the ever-evolving landscape of Philly neighborhoods all press in.
But Famous isn’t backing down.
“We’re not chasing trends,” Al says. “We’re staying true. Andiamo avanti, as they say, just keep going.”
Under Al’s care, Famous 4th Street isn’t standing still. The team is expanding its catering operations, serving everything from office luncheons to family holidays. There are even plans for a retail line that would let former locals order their favorite deli staples—pastrami, cookies, whitefish salad—from anywhere in the country. There’s also a push to welcome in the next generation - those who didn’t grow up in delis, but who deserve to know what it feels like to be part of one. “We want someone walking in for the first time to feel just as at home as the regular who’s been coming for forty years,” Al says.
That’s the beauty of Famous. It’s a place where the past and present sit side by side at the counter. Where the future is being built with every perfectly cut slice of rye, every warm greeting, every memory made.
Operating Hours and Location
Famous 4th Street Delicatessen is open everyday 9AM to 8PM at 700 S. 4th St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19147.
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