Local Flavor: Franklin Square Deli in Kent has been serving up tasty subs since 1983

I had lunch with an old college friend the other day.

And an old college sweetheart.

I married the college sweetheart.

And Jennifer was the one who first introduced me to the dear old college friend.

It was on one our early dates when we were students at Kent State in the late 1980s that Jennifer treated me to a fancy — at least for broke college students — dinner at the Franklin Square Deli.

It was love at first sight.

Jennifer was swell but the Italian sub was divine.

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We ventured back to Kent to take a sentimental stroll around the campus that doesn't look much like it did "back in the day" and the same can be said for the downtown area we'd prowl for cheap pizza or burritos.

Many of our old haunts are long gone — but the deli at Water and Main streets is still the same.

The racing photos still grace the walls, and the aroma of deli meats and cheeses along with bread and the scent of soup and Carl's "damn near famous chili" bring back memories from the moment you walk through the door.

The deli has been in Kent since 1983 but it actually started as a dream for Carl Picelle a few years before.

Picelle worked for DeMari's Submarines in Kent in high school and opened up the DeMari's Submarines in Ravenna after he graduated.

He decided to strike out on his own and open up a deli that would serve up his own original subs and sandwiches for Kent State students and offer a place for locals to gather.

The recipe worked as the Franklin Square Deli has been a mainstay in a downtown that has seen a lot of change in recent years.

When we walked in, we were greeted by the workers and a large menu of 50 or so offerings from subs to sandwiches to bagels to pizzas to soups and salads.

Jennifer carefully pondered each item.

I did too.

But truth be told (and if you know anything about me) my mind was made up before I even walked through the door.

No surprise here. I ordered the 12-inch No. 9 for $15.

It was an Italian sub with capocollo, salami, ham and provolone.

The sub bun was perfect and the fresh lettuce and onion seasoned with olive oil, wine vinegar and Italian seasoning were just as I remembered.

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I had already mentally eaten my sub while Jennifer stood there and pondered the many offerings.

Being a rebel, she went for the special sandwich of the day — a take on a turkey Rachel that consisted of turkey, creamy coleslaw, a Russian-like dressing and Swiss cheese served on rye bread.

It was quite yummy, too.

Since we are not broke college kids anymore (actually we are broke parents of five kids now) we decided to live it up and not only order soft drinks but also sides of macaroni and potato salads.

They don't make the macaroni or potato salads in house but serve up Herold's Salads that have been made in Cleveland since 1925.

The sides were a nice addition to the sub and sandwich that came with a pickle spear.

Revisiting the Franklin Square Deli and having one of their subs was like falling in love all over again … with Jennifer, of course.

Craig Webb, who did not accidentally order tomatoes on his Italian sub this time, can be reached at cwebb@thebeaconjournal.com.

Details

What: Franklin Square Deli

Where: 108 S. Water St. at Main Street in downtown Kent

Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday

For more: Visit http://www.franklinsquaredeli.com/ or call 330-673-2942.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Franklin Square Deli in Kent has been serving up tasty subs since 1983