[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 65 (Monday, April 15, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E470-E471]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING MIKE GRECO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 15, 2019

  Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I want to take a moment to honor the life 
of a Bronx icon, Mike Greco, the longtime owner of the famous ``Mike's 
Deli'' on Arthur Avenue, who passed away in late March at the age of 
89.
  Also known as the ``Salami King'' and ``Mayor of Arthur Avenue,'' 
Mike was a legend in the community. Born on May 8, 1929 to Luigi and 
Luisa Felice Greco, he came to America in 1947 from his home in 
Calabria, Italy with his twin brother, Joe, in a new suit and $50 
dollars to his name. He moved to the Bronx, began working in a butcher 
shop, and by the early 1950s had opened his very open deli on Arthur 
Avenue.
  Mike worked seven days a week starting at 6 a.m. to build Mike's Deli 
into the huge destination it became. For six decades, people from all 
over made the pilgrimage to visit, for both the wonderful food and for 
Mike himself. As the New York Times wrote, ``Mr. Greco was larger than 
life.'' The big personality, the singing, the friendly banter was all 
part of his mystique.
  Of course, personality wasn't the only draw to Mike's Deli. The food 
was renowned. A well-earned reputation for quality preceded Mike's, 
with such favorites as the imported cheese, sometimes aged for as long 
as 36 months, leading the way. Mike's eggplant parm is so delicious 
that it beat all the competition on an episode of Food Network's 
``Throwdown With Bobby Flay.'' Mike's fame also extended to television, 
where he appeared in a Ronzi commercial filmed on Arthur

[[Page E471]]

Avenue, and on the stage, where an autobiographical play written by his 
son Marco was performed.
  Mike leaves two lasting legacies--the deli and his wonderful family. 
He married Antoinette Cappiello in 1951 and together they had 2 sons, 
David and Marco and two daughters, Louisa Greco and Anna Greco Silvani. 
Mike is also survived by his five grandchildren.
  Mike Greco really was larger than life, and his contributions to the 
Bronx have left an indelible mark. He will be deeply missed.

                          ____________________