New restaurant to open where Oakwood deli closed

A new restaurant called Flyboys Deli is scheduled to open Jan. 26 in the former Cooper's Deli at 2515 Far Hills Ave., according to Steve Crandall, who owns the new deli with his wife Eunice Kim.

The couple also own Akashi Sushi Bar at 2020 Harshman Road in Riverside. Crandall said he and his wife — who spent 10 years as owner or manager of delis in Maryland and Washington, D.C. — wanted to bring an authentic "Mom-and-Pop" deli to the Dayton area. The couple will continue to operate Akashi, which they have owned since May 2012.

Eunice Kim served as manager of the former Cooper’s Deli for about a month before it closed on Oct. 30. The deli — which had been operated by the owners of Archer’s Tavern in Centerville — was open for less than six months.

While the first floor of Flyboys Deli will evoke a New York-style deli, the second floor and other parts of the building will celebrate Dayton's aviation heritage and its rich history as a cradle of invention, according to Crandall, who is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel. He and his wife moved to the Dayton area from Maryland in 2010.

Crandall said Flyboys Deli will continue to bring in pastrami and corned beef from the same source in New York City that Cooper’s Deli used, and will serve sandwiches, soups and salads, as well as beer and wine. But menu prices will be about 30 percent less than the previous deli’s, Crandall said.

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About the Author

Mark Fisher

Mark Fisher, a 1981 graduate of Ohio State University and a 1976 graduate of Beavercreek High School, is a third-generation Dayton-area resident who has worked for the Dayton Daily News since 1983. He covered higher education and K-12 education accountability issues for nearly 20 years before taking over the food and dining beat in 2006.