A street corner in Gravesend now honors the life and legacy of Lou Jerome, the late founder of Lou’s Deli, reports The Brooklyn Paper.
The intersection of East Second Street and Kings Highway was officially named Lou’s Deli Way this past Sunday, Nov. 13. The unveiling ceremony was crowded with nearly a hundred people, as old friends, family and electeds — all of whom loved Jerome for his kindness and big dreams -- came to pay their respects.
“Everybody knew and loved Lou’s Deli,” Council Member Ari Kagan said.
“It was a prime community establishment and people love the store, which is especially popular on Sunday nights.”
Following World War II, Jerome established his deli on Kings Highway. The storefront quickly became a beloved small business that went on to serve Kosher food for nearly 50 years. As a part of the Jewish Syrian Sephardic Community of Brooklyn, Jerome also dedicated his life to building community relations between both Jewish and non-Jewish patrons.
“Lou Jerome was a man whose life acted as a bridge across four generations of growth for the Jewish Syrian Sephardic Community of Brooklyn,” reads his bio, spoken aloud at Sunday’s co-naming. “The first generation, which he is part of, planted the seeds of our community, and today that same community is Brooklynites through and through.”
“I believe he was an American hero,” Kagan said.
“He was a brave person and served the community for nearly 50 years.”
