Mediterranean Deli is undergoing a significant rebuild after a fire caused $3 million in damage the summer of 2023. But the end may finally be in sight for the business at 410 West Franklin Street.

During an interview with 97.9 The Hill on Tuesday promoting an upcoming fundraiser for Los Angeles fire victims, Mediterranean Deli owner Jamil Kadoura said the latest updates he got from contractors indicate the chance to open in the late spring.

“I had a meeting with the builder today, actually,” Kadoura said. “We are targeting [UNC] graduation day. We were supposed to open a couple months ago, and it didn’t happen for many reasons. The builder told me today they should give me the key at the end of April. He said ‘it’s looking very, very good. We want to try to open you for graduation.’ And I would love to open for graduation.

“It’s starting to make me nervous, to be honest with you,” he added with a laugh. “All this work is coming now, like it used to.”

Kadoura said the experience of rebuilding the space, continuing to run Mediterranean Deli as a catering and takeout operation, and recovering from the fire alongside his employees has taught him “so much” about life, business and community. The popular restaurant received significant public support from patrons and the town government after a roof fire started by contractor work led to dramatic scenes of firefighters fighting a blaze for hours at the restaurant on July 22, 2023. The support, Kadoura said, allowed him to retain most of Med Deli’s full-time employees and the local business community did its best to provide jobs for those who could not wait for the restaurant to reopen. In the meantime, the owner reported catering has been doing well as it operates of out of the former Elaine’s On Franklin space at 454 West Franklin Street.

Rebuilding from the fire allowed Kadoura to make some helpful updates to Med Deli, he said on Tuesday, although it will remain the same space people enjoyed when it was a sit-down, deli counter.

“It’s going to be the same layout, but it’s going to be a different ambience,” he described. “We did [the rebuild] exactly how we want it to be: building-wise, kitchen-wise, equipment-wise. It’s going to be, I think, more efficient — anything I was missing before the fire, I went ahead and bought it and put it in. It’s going to be nicer for the employees to work in, and it’s going to have more of a smooth operation than it used to be.”

Jamil Kadoura said he looks forward to welcoming back customers and assembling colorful displays at his deli counter once again. (Photo via Mediterranean Deli.)

Rumors and timelines of Mediterranean Deli’s reopening have swirled ever since the fire, with the previous update shared by Kadoura to 97.9 The Hill indicating Christmas 2024 was a targeted open. The owner once again said it is possible the opening could be pushed back further than May — but he said whenever the restaurant is ready to go, they will begin with a soft opening to get accustomed to the operations again.

And when that happens, Kadoura added, he cannot wait to welcome his customers, friends and community back into the space.

“It’s going to be meeting my customers [again,]” he said of that first week of reopening. “The deli’s been open for 34 years. I told my kids, ‘You guys are going to be doing the work, you and the employees… I’m just going to be greeting people. It’s going to be very, very busy.”

In the meantime, Kadoura is focused on hosting the fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 15 to help victims of the wildfires in California. In partnership with Chapel Hill’s Acts of Kindness, the Share The Love event will send 100% of its ticket costs, beer and wine purchases, and donations to the Global Empowerment Mission. The Story Venue – owned by Kadoura — at 450 West Franklin Street is hosting the fundraiser with dinner, a live auction and dancing planned for ticket-buyers.

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