Slyvia Anderson

Magoon’s Famous Delicatessen

632 S. Eighth St.

232-3611

Magoon’s is a unique New York deli-style bar with a comfy old-time neighborhood feel.

Inside Magoon’s, with the red booths, tile floors and nostalgic St. Joseph memorabilia, it’s easy to imagine what it may have looked like originally when Ben Magoon opened the business in 1930. He closed it in 1980, but Barry Woodhall reopened the deli one year ago (Jan. 26, 2007) with the blessings and some of the original recipes of the Magoon family.

Magoon’s opens at 11 a.m. for the lunch crowd, and, as you would imagine, offers deli-style sandwiches. They also feature chili made with the original Magoon’s recipe, barbecue brisket and soups of the day. At this writing, the deli closes at 6 p.m, but they will be expanding their hours when the weather gets warmer, according to Pawel Felling, deli manager. (His name is pronounced like “Paul.” And yes, he has been told he does not know how to spell his name properly). In addition, Pawl says there are plans to expand the kitchen and the menu.

Music is the big thing here, says bar manager Jerry Vanderpool. Things get started at 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday evenings. It’s mostly blues, with a mixed age crowd anywhere from their 30s to 60s. They offer a full bar with a large variety of imported beers and have the standard happy hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. But they also have happy hour all day Monday. And Jerry says Magoon’s is the only place around with Smithwick’s Irish Ale on tap. If that’s not enough, he says it’s also the coolest place to hang out.