20 JANUARY 2026 By Kylie de Best Cheese ‘N Stuff has been serving generations of Phoenicians for more than 70 years. Founded in 1949 by Bill and Jane Dombroski, the delicatessen was later owned by three generations of the Zawatski family. In April 2025, when the eatery was slated to close, five high school friends and fourth- generation Phoenicians stepped in to help revive the neighborhood staple. Now, Tom and Julie Palmer are the owners, guiding the deli into its next chapter. The Palmers and their friends refreshed both the interior and exterior of the deli while preserving the vintage, local charm longtime customers know and love. As renovations began, the group was overjoyed to uncover the original red brick wall hidden behind 1970s-era wood paneling. They removed the old flooring, stained the concrete, and installed new ceiling lighting to brighten the space. The vintage walk-in cooler also required updates to meet current code. Rather than discard the original materials, the owners repurposed the slatted wood shelves, incorporating them into countertops inside and outside the shop. A new back patio has been added, with plans for morning and evening community events. Outside, the team power-washed the exterior to restore the original red brick, while intentionally keeping the wood paneling on the south wall to maintain the nostalgic feel. The Palmers said over the years people have shared stories of friendships formed and memories made at Cheese ‘N Stuff, and these updates create even more opportunities for connection. One of the most significant upgrades was repairing the iconic neon sign that lights up the uptown skyline. Originally installed in 1950, the sign had been inoperable for more than a decade, but it now shines brightly each night. “Our guiding goal was to honor the history of this iconic neighborhood deli while bringing it up to current standards,” Julie shared. “We hope historians and preservationists are happy with the results, as well as the locals who have decades of memories.” The Palmers are also honoring past owners by showcasing a gallery wall behind the counter, featuring photos, fun sayings, old newspaper ads, awards, and vintage signs. Among them is a favorite saying from original owner Emil Zawatski: “Today’s special, so is tomorrow.” Menu offerings include hot, cold, and specialty sandwiches such as the New Yorker, Cactus Jack, and Doughboy. Looking ahead, Julie says there are exciting ideas in store for the deli’s future. Plans include expanding catering and online ordering, introducing merchandise, hosting events, and growing market offerings to include gourmet items and charcuterie. A mural is also coming soon to the north exterior wall – so stay tuned! cheesenstuffdeli.com Over 1M sandwiches sold: Cheese ‘N Stuff is back in biz Cheese N’ Stuff first opened its doors in 1949. PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHEESE ‘N STUFF Julie, Susan Palmer Hunter, and Tom showing off the deli’s updated menu board. LOCALLUXURYRE.COM Ǖ2YO':ƙƙ OOYY ůŬŪƙŮŪŭƙůŬűŪ EXTRAORDINARY ESTATES | ICONIC RESIDENCES KATRINA BARRETT @k:OƔƵ O@2O CATCH KATRINA’S LOCAL LUXURY LISTING OF THE WEEK - THURSDAYS AT 9PM ON FOX10! ABOVE THE ORDINARY O£Ñ£¸Ƶ ;·Ƶ }Ƶ ŭƙŮůƩ}ÍƵ ·¾Ü¸×}£¸Ñ£Ƶ £¸Ƶ L}Í}£ÑƵ j}²²ïƔƵ ס£Ñ ÑܲÊ×ÜÍ}²Ƶ·¾Í¸ƵÑ×}×ƵïƵY¡Ƶ¾¸Ñ×ÍÜ×£¾¸Ƶv¾¸ƵÍ£¸Ñ }Í¡£××ÜÍ}²Ƶî²²¸Ƶ£¸ƵÍ£ô¾¸}Ƶ²ÜîÜÍïƵÍ}²ƵÑ×}×ƙ BUILT FOR THE HORIZON 4301 E UPPER RIDGE WAY PARADISE VALLEY, AZ 85253 k}²²ÑƵ ¾Ƶ ²}ÑÑƵ Í}·Ƶ ÑéÊ£¸Ƶ ·¾Ü¸×}£¸Ƶ Ñ£²¡¾Ü××ÑƵ }¸ ²¾é£¸Ƶ £×ïƵ ²£¡×ÑƔƵ é¡£²Ƶ ²è}×Ƶ ×ÍÍ}ÑƵ }¸Ƶ Í£¸ £¸×Í£¾ÍÑƵÍ}×Ƶ}ƵÑ}·²ÑÑƵ²¾éƵ×é¸Ƶ¸}×ÜÍƵ}¸ƵÑ£¸ƙ èÍïƵ×}£²Ƶ£ÑƵ£¸×¸×£¾¸}²ƙƵèÍïƵè£éƔƵܸ£¸×ÍÍÜÊ×ƙ KATRINA BARRETT @k:OƔƵ O@2O
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