Forbes' '30 Under 30' List Features Katz's Deli Owner Jake Dell

LOWER EAST SIDE, NY — A familiar Lower East Side face was featured on Forbes magazine's 30 Under 30 entrepreneurs list released Tuesday. Katz's Deli owner Jake Dell, 29, appeared in this year's "Food & Drink" category for "modernizing" the nearly 130-year-old New York legend.

Katz's Deli prides itself on staying a family run business for over 100 years. Dell, a fifth-generation owner of Katz's, joined the store in late 2009 and is now in charge of all major operations. He has a Bachelor of Arts/Science from Tufts and a Master of Business Administration from NYU.

Forbes notes that Dell upgraded the deli's technology, and expanded catering operations and shipping nationwide. The feature highlights the new satellite business opening in Dekalb Market in Brooklyn in spring 2017, which is the first ever expansion of the deli.

"The main thing is that it’s hard to get down to the Lower East Side, and Brooklyn has been a strong part of our customer base,” Jake Dell, an owner at Katz’s, told the New York Times. “We can make it a little easier for our customers who have been coming for generations.”

Katz’s Deli will be one of 55 vendors in DeKalb Market Hall, a massive food court currently being built into the new City Point mall under construction near Flatbush Avenue and Willoughby Street. The 30,000-square-foot space will also feature vendors like Fletcher's, Forcella, Meltkraft and Ample Hills.

See Related: Brooklyn Is Getting Its Own Katz's Deli

Another noteworthy career accomplishment was when Dell orchestrated the sale of air rights for Katz's back in April. Dell cut a $17 million deal with luxury developers to sell its air rights and neighboring lots to guarantee the deli's spot on East Houston Street, Eater New York reports.

Photo: numb3r/Flickr