Porubsky’s, iconic Topeka deli known for chili and hot pickles, closes after 75 years in business

Right after 75 yrs in organization, an iconic Topeka deli acknowledged for its chili and scorching pickles has closed.

It is really the close of an era for a lot of Topekans.

April 30 was the past day in enterprise for CW Porubsky’s Deli and Tavern in North Topeka’s Very little Russia group, Cecelia Pierson explained to The Funds-Journal on Thursday.

Pierson co-owned the fabled eatery with her siblings, Charlie Porubsky Jr., Matt Porubsky, Teresa Thomas and Mark Porubsky, all of whom are 65 or more mature.

“We respect all the persons who have supported us over the many years, but every thing has to arrive to an conclusion, and we all just determined we are acquiring weary,” she said.

The business at 508 N.E. Sardou Ave. place a a single-paragraph announcement of the closing on its Facebook site Friday.

“The Porubsky loved ones would like to thank each individual customer who shared foodstuff, laughs, and adore with us,” it reported. “We are grateful to have had the opportunity to serve you. We will pass up you. Time for us to dangle up our aprons and set up our ft.”

Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, Porubsky’s experienced invested most of the previous two several years serving consumers have-out only.

Rep. Vic Miller, a friend of the relatives and Kansas Residence member who ate many instances at Porubsky’s, claimed Thursday he felt unhappy it experienced closed.

“Sad that I will not get to take pleasure in the chili or pickles once more, unhappy that I won’t get to deal with new pals to a truly one of a kind working experience, and sad that the community will no lengthier delight in their quite own deli and grocery,” he stated. “But as unhappy as I am, I can only smile that I was so lucky to get to know each individual member of the Porubsky loved ones as perfectly as I did and get pleasure from so a lot of excellent recollections of my times there. God bless them all.”

‘An old-fashioned type of place’

Porubsky’s co-owners are the children of Charles Porubsky, who opened it in 1947, and his wife, Lydia Porubsky. Charles Porubsky died in 1998 and Lydia Porubsky in 2008.

The cozy, tiny 40-seat eatery was flavored by a relaxed but colourful tiny-town ambiance, which attracted a lunchtime group of laborers and specialists alike.

Story carries on

“It really is just an aged-fashioned kind of area,” Leon Cochenour informed The Money-Journal in 2003.

The spotlight of Porubsky’s recipe for accomplishment was its popular chili, made from scratch in the course of the cold-weather conditions months considering the fact that the 1950s.

Porubsky’s can make “the most effective chili ever,” Connie Chatham told The Money-Journal in 2003.

“I could try to eat it each and every day,” she mentioned.

Porubsky’s was also recognised for its warm pickles.

“I just open the jar and it clears my sinuses,” Debbie Mercer instructed The Funds-Journal in 2019.

Porubsky’s upstairs segment featured a tiny, two-aisle grocery store with an outdated-fashioned meat counter.

A few of techniques beneath it on the lessen amount was the deli and pub space, which contained booths, very long tables and bar stools.

Consumers used plastic knives, forks and spoons. All payments experienced to be made by money or check.

Porubsky’s walls ended up adorned by framed newspaper article content about the enterprise and autographed shots of past Porubsky’s consumers, which includes retired baseball Corridor of Famer George Brett and U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran.

There were also pics of past Kansas governors Robert Docking, Robert Bennett, John Carlin, Mike Hayden, Joan Finney, Monthly bill Graves, Kathleen Sebelius and Jeff Colyer, as effectively as latest Gov. Laura Kelly.

Porubsky’s prosperous background was the matter of a documentary produced by Matt Porubsky, son of co-owner Matthew Porubsky, who financed its production as a result of grants and donations.

The film arrived out on DVD in 2009 and was titled “Porubsky’s: Transcendent Deli.”

It was shown at Topeka’s Hollywood 14 Theaters.

Tim Hrenchir can be achieved at [email protected] or 785-213-5934.

Porubsky’s legacy remembered

Topekans, present and former, took to Facebook to share their reminiscences of Porubsky’s the well-known deli that announced its everlasting closing Thursday. These are some of people shared on The Money-Journal Facebook webpage.

This article initially appeared on Topeka Money-Journal: Porubsky’s, Topeka diner known for chili, hot pickles, closes for great