(Photo Courtesy of Alex Compton)
Sept. 10, 2018 By Tara Law
A deli offering big-bite sandwiches opened in the western section of Astoria on Friday.
Compton’s Delicatessen is now serving specialty sandwiches, smoothies and coffee drinks at 30-02 14th St., the former location of Château le Woof.
The deli specializes in thick sandwiches on gourmet bread, including “The Tony,” (prosciutto, soppressata, provolone, arugula, tomato, peppers, red wine vinegar, olive oil, black pepper, and oregano on a hero); and “The Dimitri,” (sliced chicken, feta, tomato, cucumber, red onion, lemon, black pepper and tzatziki on a hero).
Compton’s owner, 33-year-old Alex Compton, said he opened the deli because he always wanted to pursue his passion for cooking. He first started to dream of the sandwich shop six years ago, and began by scribbling sandwich recipes in a notebook. He shared his recipes with his friends and family and asked for feedback.
(Photo Courtesy of Alex Compton)
Although he now lives in Long Island City, Compton lived a few blocks from the deli’s storefront for some time. He always liked the area, he said, but he noticed that there were few restaurants within walking distance.
“Even when I had a Sunday hangover, I had to order a bacon, egg and cheese on Seamless,” Compton said.
When he learned Château le Woof was moving to 31-01 Vernon Blvd. this spring, Compton decided to make his move and rent the restaurant space.
Compton said that he’s excited to finally share his ideas with the community.
“This is the first job where I’ve had to get up at 5:00 a.m.,” said Compton, “But I don’t care, I love it.”
Compton said that he envisions the restaurant as a combination of an old-school New York deli and a contemporary city coffee shop. He said that he hopes both longtime Astoria resident and newcomers will feel welcome there.
Besides sandwiches and smoothies, the restaurant also serves coffee, espresso drinks and cold brew on tap from local roaster Demarco Coffee.
Compton’s is open weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. The shop seats about 15 people.
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39 Comments
Well done, Alex! I like the idea a lot. Sally Compton told me about it and, of course, it appeared on the family Christmas card.
I am your cousin in England…
Nice to have a local option other than rolling down to 31st street. I just had a terrific breakfast sandwich, perfect cure for a case of the mondays, which is pretty bad on a Tuesday. Good luck to them.
This is an amazing opportunity for a young man who has worked hard to get where he is at. I know for myself I’m on a tight schedule in the morning and having convenience is amazing for coffee in the morning. We are all scared for change but this place is worth every penny. From the service to the menu. I don’t know about anyone else but Starbucks and Dunkin in the morning takes 15min+ sometimes. Give him a shot he deserves that.
Personally, I wouldn’t make a chicken sandwich w/ feat on a soft seeded semolina. It deserves a ciabatta. Thank you very much!
I’m looking for a second job. Are you hiring?
Awesome addition to the neighborhood. Alex knows how to make a delicious sandwich, has super creative & unique menu options and overall great atmosphere. It’s our new go-to spot, and anyone not giving it a chance for whatever reason, is missing out big time. Support local businesses and good people. I’ll be back in this weekend for “the Bruce”!
“Trendy”. The sandwich has been around since the 18th century. Lacing it with hallucinogens has been around since the 60s. Call it what it is-a hipster haven that will be closed in a year. Wait for the post on this site!
Hey big guy how about growing a pair and building your own place…? Oh wait I forgot, all you can do is talk down about people who actually risked something in their life while you work your miserable 9 to 5 and come home only to do it again the next day…
#GetHimOuttaHere
Oh my my my. I know something perhaps no reader here knows. 30-02 14th Street is the original home of ?????…………..
Romanelli’s CANDY STORE! Right there on the sw corner of 14th and 30th Avenue — across the street from our apartment building at 1221 30th Avenue…and Whitney’s limo garage. Romanelli’s. Where the local kids would sing acapella late at night in the candy store doorway for that doo-wop studio echo effect. Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers style
When??? In the glorious 1950s in the old Italian neighborhood of Astoria, NY. So long ago but the memories never die.
That’s the problem, folks. All thumbs down on the past. Every thumb a disregard for a simpler — and dare I say better? — time.
Onward…and may it all work out by another 50 years from now.
Yeah, it was so much better. Women and Blacks couldn’t vote, and we were on the verge of nuclear war w/ the soviets every day. NYC was a smog-filled mess run by the mob and corrupt police department.
The good old days!
Couldn’t vote? In Astoria in the 50s? Not the Astoria I lived in. And while there were nuclear fears, there is similar today. 9/11 anyone??? As for the rest, most folks can’t afford the rent anymore in NYC. The trend, if anything over the years, has been from a livable City to one where the elite trend higher and the average Joe trends lower. But good luck to you…
I don’t know why anyone’s thumbing this down. That’s something I didn’t know about the neighborhood I’ve called home for the last 10 years. Thanks for sharing, that sounds like it was really special.
Thanks for commenting Danny. Thumbs downers are perhaps the politically correct for whom other than the folks living there now, all the past is to be scrubbed and jettisoned as insufficiently sensitive and detached. I sense Astoria is a challenging place to live these days. People taking upper 6-figure mortgages for little postage stamp apartments. I lived in on of those apartments for all of my childhood. The rent was $67. Something ain’t right.
I welcome any new establishment that takes a chance in NYC now BUT entitled, rich millennials from out of town who now live in that neighborhood and have their parents pay for their overpriced rent who are pushing the long term residents out of there did not grow up supporting mom and pop stores, that’s why they are all gone from Astoria and the rest of NYC. The Lower East Side is case in point, a venerable ghost town now of retail when once it was a vibrant, thriving scene, it is now big box stores and home delivery of goods. Maybe they would find the decency to support a new establishment in the Old Astoria area but chances are, they will just walk on by with their heads down staring at their Instagram accounts and texting (instead of having an intelligent conversation with someone else and actually gaining life skills to carry with them for the rest of their lives) while walking into others and not apologizing for their rudeness. Most of them are truly detached from reality unfortunately and have absolutely no social skills in interacting with others on a human level today, everything must be digital and detached from the norms of society. Most if all of them will not set up roots there and invest in a two family home and will eventually move on to the next neighborhood once they get bored. The 6 month rental leases they request from landlords and have no work experience to show for themselves are proof of this. If no one takes pride in their neighborhoods anymore, they are doomed to fail. History has proven this time and time again. I am so glad my children do not live in NYC.
VERY well said and spot on. I guess you are over 50 as well? My now long departed mom-in-law used to say “It’s the communists. They will take us over, wait and see.”
Ha-ha. (Or…um…maybe she had a point? Robots conditioned to think a certain way…while no longer really thinking at all.)
Again, I feel your pain. And I too live far from where it all began. Wisconsin, to be precise. l
Generalize much?
Wah! Why can’t things stay the same?
Wah! Why do things have to change?
Wah! Why didn’t I change with it?
Wah! Why do I think it’s a good idea to make broad generalizations about people?
Wah! Why can’t I get with the times?
Wah! Why do I make comments on a neighborhood I don’t even live in anymore and have no idea what it’s like to live there now?
Wah! Why do I think anyone would care about how it used to be, when it never was anything special to begin with?
Wah! Why do I think I have any right to criticize people trying to make the neighborhood a better place when I myself haven’t done a single thing? Wah! Wah! Waaaaaaah!
Thumbs downers could also be people who find your verbose commenting style pompous, unclear and maddening, Owen…. Great points made Anonymous.
ANONY —
Hmmm. You sound angry. A landlord perhaps? Or a mortgage loan officer? And why the contempt for reflections on Astoria’s past? Got something against Italians? (And a serious question: what is Astoria’s “changing population” these days? Queens and my old Astoria neighborhood have a proud tradition of evolving populations. I sense a fear of it for some of the people posting here. (And Anony: too bad you can’t use your actual name, as I am doing. Maybe we already know each 0ther 🙂
Oh — and I am retired now but I actually wrote for a living and made a good buck at it. Even a few peer-reviewed awards along the way. Fancy that.
Hands down, best sandwich shop in astoria and it’s not even close.
Live in the neighborhood and welcome and support anyone making the personal investment and taking the leap of faith to start a business. I plan to eat there #supportlocal. Add a Cuban sandwich and I’ll be there weekly!
Seems strange to be dosing children with CBD oil. Guess you gotta pay rent though.
Sal and Kris deli is the gold standard in Astoria. Let’s give Comptons a fair shot first.
Yes, he is absolutely right that this area needs a few decent places to eat. I lived nearby for nearly 30 years. More people are coming in and many are young. I wish him luck. With Astor Bake Shop gone, there is a need.
Do apartments in that area not have refrigerators and stoves? Are people, so weak from hunger, collapsing on the sidewalks?
What an absolutely stupid comment, Anonymous!
Too expensive for people down there.
How can it be trendy if it has not developed a following?
What trend does it follow?
its trendy cause it has CBD oil, smoothie/juice drinks and artisanal sounding ingredients on the menu. Don’t you speak hipster?
It’s not racist lol. The sandwiches are named after my close friends and family members. As far as it being special, it’s special to me. We offer large premium gourmet sandwiches and delicious locally roasted coffee. I hope you try us out !
I’ll drop by this week. Glad to see more businesses serving the changing neighborhood. Looking forward to premium food within walking distance of work.
sounds racist
You are out of your mind.
Yeah… a sandwich named “Debbie” is *SUPER* racist. #idiot
Looks like any other deli whats so special?
Support Alex and his new business. Let’s be positive
No way, Jose.
What’s so special!? Aside from a handful of disgusting bodegas I wouldn’t so much as buy a pack of cigarettes much less FOOD, there’s no place to eat in that neighborhood. This place looks clean and new and is bringing some life to this shady mcshady area, so give it a GD chance.