PARENT PROFILE
DAVID GRECO P ’ 15
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F YOU ’ RE A CURRENT STUDENT OR ALUMNUS OF THE PREP , you may have visited Mike ’ s Deli on Arthur Avenue at least once — but most likely dozens of times .
Owned by alumni parent David Greco P ’ 15 , Mike ’ s Deli produces fresh mozzarella , delicious meats , and specialty sandwiches named after public figures such as Sophia Loren and films like A Bronx Tale .
The restaurant was previously owned by Greco ’ s father , Michele “ Mike ” Greco , a hard-working immigrant from the Calabria region of Italy . He was very well known in the Bronx ’ s own “ Little Italy .” He appeared in a Ronzoni commercial filmed on Arthur Avenue and had a cameo in the 1993 film Six Degrees of Separation . Mike Greco was also the subject of the play , Behind the Counter with Mussolini , by Greco ’ s brother , Marco .
Greco inherited the business in the 1990s . He adapted to present-day commerce by launching an online store and opening a nearby cafe at 2329 Arthur Avenue . Mike passed away in 2019 , but his legacy lives on through his son ’ s ownership .
We stopped by Mike ’ s Deli to chat with Greco about being the owner of one of the most famous places to eat in Bronx ’ s Little Italy .
David Greco P ’ 15 is the current owner of Mike ’ s Deli on Arthur Avenue .
What does operating a restaurant
Q : in the Bronx mean to you and your family ?
A :
A lot of hard work . It ’ s never easy , but the satisfaction level is totally different than anywhere in New York City . People from all walks of life are so excited to come into this market . And that ’ s a great feeling . Everybody who comes here is grounded , whether they ’ re coming in to have a dish of pasta or sandwich , or if they ’ re coming to take stuff home to the kids that are not coming to the block every day . The Prep and the University bring people from all over the tri-state area . But when they come here , they ’ re on the same level .
We ground them , and they feel their parents or their grandparents . People come here and get emotional . I remember when my grandmother used to shop here — you can ’ t buy that . And that ’ s where
I feel we ’ re very fortunate . One of our slogans is , “ Some things never change .” We try to keep things the same . Even though we ’ ll add specialties like Italian nachos because it is on TikTok and my daughter wants me to do it , they are just truffle chips . But people love that it ’ s creative and innovative . We try to be on that next level but at the same time , some things don ’ t change . We keep everything the same . The best-quality parmigiana and the best bread in the neighborhood .
How do you feel knowing that
Q : your restaurant is on Principal Petriello ’ s list of favorite places on Arthur Avenue ?
A :
I knew the principal loved us . I did not know we were on his top list . That makes me happy . I ’ ve been taking care of the Fordham community for over 25 years . I feel like the faculty really cares about a quality education . They have high standards for their students . I think we are alike in that way . I believe that with the highest quality of service , you ’ ll always have happy and loyal customers . And I also like that the Prep recognizes that there is a lot to what is right outside its doors .
What comes to mind when you
Q : hear the words “ Fordham Prep at Rose Hill ”?
I ’ ve always been a part of the Prep
A : community . Fr . Joe Parkes , SJ convinced me that my son should go to the Prep . He was the greatest . I ’ ve been behind the counter 45 years — since I was 12 years old . I was living in the Bronx , and then , in my high school years , I moved to Rockland County . And now I feel like the Prep is on another level . When my son attended the Prep , he was a kid from Westchester who really didn ’ t grow up in the Bronx .
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FORDHAM PREP RAMVIEW