(Photo: Jeremy Thompson | CC)
Central Grocery and Deli is still closed but now its muffuleta sandwiches are sold at Sidney’s Wine Cellar on Decatur Street.
Sidney’s announced recently that as of Friday, the muffulettas will be sold. Whole muffulettas cost $24.95 and half sandwiches cost $13.95.
Located at 917 Decatur St., Sidney’s is next door to Central Grocery. The deli has been temporarily closed since its building was heavily damaged in Hurricane Ida August 2021.
Sidney’s reopened in March, a little more than six months after Ida after it also sustained damage in the hurricane. The liquor store is open until 10 p.m. on Sunday to Thursday, and open midnight on Friday and Saturday.
It’s unclear when Central Grocery will reopen, although Sidney’s manager Scott Glab said it could be at least another.
The muffuletta sandwich originated in New Orleans sometime in the early 20th century and the term refers to a type of Sicilian bread. It’s not clear who made the first sandwich, although many historians credit Central Grocery and Deli with its invention.
The sandwich typically consists of salami, ham, mortadella, Swiss cheese, provolone and olive salad in between two large slices of sesame seed-covered bread. The sandwich is typically cut in quarters or halves due to its size.