The Guidry’s are at it again. The local husband-and-wife duo Audra and Nick Guidry, owners of East Nashville favorites Pelican & Pig, Slow Hand Coffee + Bakeshop, and the upcoming Olivia Cocktail and Oyster Bar in Lebanon, will soon open a new concept called Leon’s Famous Deli at 2240 N. Mt. Juliet Rd, Suite 100, according to a press release. The Guidry’s are partnering with long-time friends and real estate developers Hunter and Wendy Briley to bring forth the concept.
“Named after Hunter’s grandfather, Leon, a Baton Rouge, LA native, Leon’s Famous Deli will bring influence from Louisiana as well as elements of New York Delis while serving up classic and creative deli sandwiches with nods to New Orleans where partner Nick Guidry is originally from,” the release states.
The sandwich-focused shop will offer plenty of Southern staples, including muffaletas, po’boys, and other NOLA-inspired cuisine, set to debut in April. The Instagram page for Leon’s indicates that the business is hiring for back-of-house and cashiers.
“The bread is light, airy, yet has a glass-like crunch to the crust. This is one of the breads I knew to be the base of po’boys growing up; we played with other products but we kept coming home to Leidenheimer French bread. So much of what we are doing comes from Louisiana roots, from the bread to our roast beef, which is a New Orleans-style braised beef debris rather than a sliced beef, our Italian is a nod to the beloved muffuletta – pit-smoked ham, hard salami, mortadella, provolone and our house giardiniera – rather than the traditional olive relish, but on French bread,” Nick said.
Leon’s Famous Deli’s approach to using high-quality ingredients and making many menu items from scratch will ensure its customers the most authentic and top-notch experience.
“We will also give nods to New York deli by offering cold deli salads such as egg salad, chicken salad and more in cups or pints. We are also brining and smoking our own Pastrami for pastrami on marble rye and Reubens, brewing our own cold brew, and will be offering up fun drinks like brightly colored Kool-aid to bring a bit of fun and color,” he added.
Leon’s Famous Deli will boast an open kitchen to foster the idea of community, a commonality between the culture of New Orleans and Leon’s personality. You will find green accented around the industrial modern decorated space, an homage to the favorite green ink pens that Leon exclusively used in his daily life. A neon green lightning bolt on the wall serves as a symbol of Leon’s welding profession, and a family picture wall illustrates the life of a family man.
Customers can keep up to date with the new deli on its website, Facebook, and Instagram pages.
