After 16 years, Brookside Deli closes

You could always tell when it was Friday when you were anywhere near the intersection of Central Valley Highway and Central Avenue in Shafter. The smell of barbecued tri-tip would emanate from the walls of the Brookside Deli, signaling the end of the work week.

But Friday was the last day those smells would waft our way, as Brookside closed its doors after 16 years of serving the city its menu of breakfast and lunch sandwiches.

Owner Jeremy Jeffries, of Jeffries Bros., Inc., said that the decision to close has been a long time coming and not a spur-of-the-moment thing. "We have been having a rough time for the past year," Jeffries said.

The business opened in February 2003, with a variety of sandwiches, salads and sides that made it a very popular breakfast and lunch destination. They also provided catering service, for events large and small.

The tri-tip on Fridays was popular, with the full parking lot a regular sight downtown, especially around lunch time. They usually ran out of the meat before the customers were gone.

Jeffries said that a rent increase from the landlords – the City of Shafter –was one factor in the closing decision. He said the added expense made it more difficult to operate the business with their current flow of customers. "They did raise the rent, and it just helped us make a decision that we probably should have made almost a year ago," said Jeffries.

Jeffries, a long-time fuel distributor, is celebrating 72 years in Kern County. They still own Brookside Deli locations in Bakersfield, as well as the catering services that serve a similar menu.