In May of 2024, the longtime location of one of Bloomington’s most popular brunch restaurants will find a new home. The Village Deli, which opened on Kirkwood in 1980, will say goodbye, at least for now, to the roof it has stood under for the last 43 years. The building in which the Deli currently resides will be torn down in order to build an abundance of new apartment buildings for future student living. The restaurant will move into the Topos building on 8th and Walnut, between Kilroy’s Sports and Switchyard.

The move into the Topos Building is only temporary, though. Once the creation of the new apartments buildings is complete, construction of Village Deli returning to their Kirkwood location will begin. Although there is no official timetable for when this will be, it is estimated that the work on the apartment buildings will not be finished until sometime in 2025, according to Village Deli owner Bob Costello. The new Walnut location will have a different feel to it than the one we have grown accustomed to on Kirkwood. We can expect the updated Village Deli to have more of a classy feel to it rather than feeling like a small town diner. The Deli will even serve beer and liquor for the first time in their history.

The move will obviously affect more than just customers, as the workers of the restaurant will have to adapt to an entirely new environment, should they decide to stay. A completely new ambiance, kitchen, and layout will comprise of the takeover of the Topos Building on Walnut Street, leading everyone to ease into this new building. This will take time to become accustomed to and is not an easy task, as working in the same place for an extended period of time naturally causes you to fall into a routine. A new regimen will have to be drawn out for returning employees of the Deli.

Although the move is only temporary, it will take some getting used to for those around Bloomington. As we walk by the heart of campus on Kirkwood for the next two years or so, we will see the tearing down of the Deli and the building up of new apartment buildings. Although Bloomington residents won’t have their typical pancake location, the short-term deli on 8th and Walnut will satisfy in the meantime. By the time the new Village Deli is complete, it will be an entirely new look, and ultimately be well worth it.