Viva Deli on Haywood Road has closed

You will not be able to get a delicious caprese sandwich from Viva Deli tomorrow. Or the next day.

It’s probably not a good sign for an establishment when its Haywood Road marquee — which typically shouts out daily specials and funny sayings — says that one of the co-owners is an “A-Hole.” That sign was up all day on Thursday and was taken down in the afternoon. A picture appeared on the West Asheville Facebook page.

Indeed, the deli has closed at that location for good, reports co-owner Glenn Goldberg. He and Peter Callahan owned the business, which opened at 625 Haywood Road in January of last year. Goldberg had previously operated the popular Viva Europa in Montford. Xpress readers voted Viva Deli their favorite place for sandwiches in last year’s Best of WNC reader’s poll, and the deli had built a loyal following at its West Asheville location.

Workers at Standard Pizza next door told Xpress that the deli had been closed since Monday. As of Thursday afternoon, the deli was dark, chairs were stacked on tables and there was no meat, cheese or any of the deli’s housemade salads in the case.

Callahan and Goldberg were in a dispute, reports Goldberg, who states that Callahan left the business three months ago. Callahan could not be reached for comment.

Goldberg, meanwhile, hopes to reopen somewhere else in the future.

“This is what I do; this is what I enjoy doing,” he said. “I’ve got a great team who’s willing to go anywhere with me and do it all again. We are already looking into that.”

And the caprese, if you never experienced it, was near-perfect with its buffalo mozzarella cheese, fresh pesto, thick tomato slices and housemade ciabatta bread.

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