Olde School Deli expands, now offers dinner menu

NORTH CANAAN — Olde is new again in the center of town. 

The Olde School Deli has moved next door on Railroad Street to find more elbow room and the ability to expand its offerings to full dinner service. 

For the past seven years, owner Ron Clavette served breakfast and lunch out of the tiny storefront in  the old Fuller Hardware building. He had since acquired the Sunrise Diner in Sheffield as well.

When the tavern next door to the deli closed, the owner came to him with a suggestion Clavette could not refuse. 

The bar was replaced by a deli case and service counter. The dining room allows space for groups large and small, from business lunches to intimate dinners. 

Sunrise Diner is closed now, but its staff is at the deli, as well as many of its customers. Clavette, who is active in the Canaan Chamber of Commerce, said he hopes more folks from Massachusetts will discover North Canaan as a place to shop.

The deli was busy during lunchtime on a recent weekday. Folks were eating in and picking up food. The atmosphere is inviting with lots of wood and subtle lighting and a soaring ceiling, painted in the former bar’s bright green.

“We really outgrew the other place,” Clavette said. “We went from seating for 16 to 40. We’re serving breakfast, lunch and dinner now. We only served dinner on Friday nights at the diner before this, but many of our customers here said they wanted more dinner options in town.”

The dinner menu will include entrees such as burgers, steaks, pork chops and salmon.

Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday and Monday, 5 a.m. to 3 p.m.