By Ashley M. Casey
Associate Editor
The B’ville Pickle, The Deli at 12 W. Genesee St., and now the Lunchbox Deli: The little eatery nestled in the village of Baldwinsville has changed names and owners a few times in the last several years. As of Oct. 30, the Otts family is handing over the keys of the deli to new owner Amy Casper.
“It was the best decision in our entire life to take on this adventure 3-1/2 years ago. I wish we would’ve done it 20 years sooner,” outgoing owner Joanne Otts wrote in an Oct. 19 post on The Deli at 12’s Facebook page.
Otts told the Messenger that she and her husband, Pat, had made the decision to retire before the COVID-19 pandemic descended.
“The B’ville community has supported us completely and they’re just amazing,” she said.
Pat and Joanne Otts plan to start their retirement by cheering on their grandchildren at Baldwinsville Bees games — lacrosse, field hockey and football — before moving to Florida.
Joanne Otts said the decision to retire was difficult, but the time was right.
“It’s so hard to leave all of our friends,” she said. “We appreciated being in B’ville and I’m going to miss everybody.”
The Otts family bought the B’ville Pickle from John and Cindy Collar in 2017 and rebranded it as The Deli at 12 W. Genesee St. They have sold the business to Amy Casper.
“Amy’s going to be amazing. She’s going to breathe new life into it,” Otts said.
In a comment on Otts’ Facebook post, Casper assured the eatery’s fans that the menu’s greatest hits are here to stay.
“I sure have some big shoes to fill!” she wrote. “Things might look a little different when you walk in, but rest assured, all your favorite menu items will be here to stay. Why fix what’s not broken, right?”
Casper, who lives in Skaneateles, works for Jordan-Elbridge schools and is the owner of ROC Marketing Events, which manages beverage tents for events such as Taste of Syracuse and the New York State Fair.
“We’ve been down because of COVID,” she said. “It’s really just a seasonal business that I’ve had for years.”
Casper heard through a friend that Otts was looking to sell the deli, so she seized the opportunity.
“The deli looks like a little gem that I can expand upon,” she said.
For now, The Deli at 12 will keep its name and menu. Casper will gradually transition the brand into the Lunchbox Deli. Thanks to Onondaga County’s Village Main Street Program, the eatery will have a new façade next spring.
“It’s kind of like a vintage working man’s deli theme. You’ll see,” Casper said.
While the menu will remain largely the same, she is looking to add to the soup selection and sell pie by the slice. Casper said she plans to spend the fall and winter learning the ins and outs of the B’ville business community and what consumers would like to see from the deli.
“I’d like to spend some time in the community seeing what people want,” she said.
The storefront next door to the deli is vacant, so Casper might expand depending on how her first year goes.
Casper said she was drawn to Baldwinsville because she has family here and the community has a similar small-town feel to Skaneateles.
“It’s a wonderful community. Everyone supports everyone,” she said. “I’m excited to meet everyone in the community. Everyone’s been so gracious.”
Visit facebook.com/thedeliat12wgeneseest for updates and to see The Deli at 12’s hours.
