Koch's Deli, a West Philadelphia staple, reopens near Penn's campus after renovations

Koch’s Deli — a West Philadelphia staple which first opened in 1966 — reopened on Nov. 15 after closing for nearly a year for renovations. 

Koch's, a local Jewish delicatessen at 43rd and Locust streets, first closed in November 2023 after the Philadelphia Department of Health reported 21 health code violations. Whole the business briefly announced on Facebook that it would relocate to 6th and Market streets, it wound up reopening in the same location and their University City storefront remains the only location listed on their website. 

Koch's management told The Daily Pennsylvanian that, over the past year, they made several improvements to its facilities, including a $15,000 investment to upgrade their kitchen with a dedicated space for preparing hot food. They added that the upgrade allows them to expand their menu with new offerings, including a vegan menu and expanded vegetarian selection in an effort to cater to a wider range of customers. Among the new additions are a black bean burger, a vegetarian steak, and several new vegetarian sandwiches.

Koch's owner Bing Qi told the DP that, in addition to the new food options, the back of the store has been revamped to feature a new section for snacks and drinks, including sangria, ‘Dirty’ deli-style chips, and Bora Bora drinks. Qi said that these upgrades have both attracted a wave of new customers and retained loyal patrons.

"Since the renovation, our rating has consistently been 5 stars," Qi said. 

The Koch family first opened the deli in 1966 and has since gained a loyal following within the West Philadelphia community. After the death of founding co-owners Lou Koch and Bob Koch in 1996 and 2005, respectively, Koch's has seen several changes in management and ownership.

Qi said that he has aimed to maintain the deli's traditional allure through focusing on improving their wide variety of fresh cheeses and meats.