Izzy's

What Izzy's does

Izzy's (legal entity Izzy Kadetz Inc.) is a family-owned American delicatessen founded in 1901 in Cincinnati, Ohio by Russian-Jewish immigrant Izzy Kadetz as the first kosher-style deli west of the Alleghenies. The company operates five physical restaurants today (Elm Street in downtown Cincinnati, Forest Park, Madisonville/Red Bank, Western Hills, and Florence, KY) with a sixth Monroe, OH location scheduled for Summer 2026, and supports dine-in, takeout, drive-thru at select sites, third-party delivery, catering for 15 to 5,000 guests, online ordering via the Toast Tab platform, and an online group ordering system with INVITE-link sharing. The firm employs 51–100 staff under President & CEO John Geisen and remains privately held by the Kadetz family.

The core product offering centers on signature Reubens (marketed as 'World's Greatest Reubens'), award-winning chicken noodle soup (winner of the Wise Brother's Temple 'Best Chicken Noodle Soup in Cincinnati' award for 16 consecutive years), and a potato pancake recipe unchanged for over 120 years, supplemented by a broader deli menu of corned beef, pastrami, turkey, soup, salads, sides, desserts (Apple Crunch, Key Lime Pie, Vanilla Bean Cheesecake), and a kids' menu. Retail products including Izzy's Famous Jewish Rye bread, Izzy's Famous Honey White bread, and Izzy's Pickles are distributed through Kroger's refrigerated grocery section. Gift cards are sold in $5–$100 denominations online (via PayPal) and in-store.

The business operates a multi-channel, largely brick-and-mortar revenue model spanning dine-in and takeout sales, third-party delivery (with a 30-minute delivery promise), catering, retail CPG sales through Kroger, and gift card monetization. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer with marketing concentrated in organic social (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), an email coupon program, community events (Zinzinnati Oktoberfest participation for 40+ years), and customer review aggregation across Google, Yelp, Facebook, and TripAdvisor. No proprietary technology or AI capability is disclosed; the technology stack is limited to Toast Tab for online ordering and PayPal for gift card processing.

Name

Izzy's

Legal name

Izzy Kadetz Inc.

Website

https://izzys.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1901

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Izzy's is a family-owned Cincinnati delicatessen founded in 1901, operating five restaurants (with a sixth Monroe, OH location opening Summer 2026) serving Reubens, award-winning chicken noodle soup, and potato pancakes to local diners, event catering customers, and Kroger retail shoppers in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky market.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Deli Restaurant / Delicatessen

NAICS

Limited-Service Restaurants (722513), Caterers (722320), Retail Bakeries (311811)

SIC

Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090), Bakery Products (2050)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHSACAGAH

Specialty & Dietary Catering (Vegan, Kosher, Halal, Allergy-Friendly)

Home & Personal Services/Event & Personal Concierge Services/Catering Coordination & Food Service (Non-restaurant)

SECONDARYAFAKAAAF

Frozen Bakery Products Manufacturing

Agriculture & Food Production/Food Processing & Manufacturing/Bakery & Confectionery Manufacturing

SECONDARYCRADADAD

Frozen Snacks & Appetizers

Consumer Products & Retail/Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) Manufacturing & Brands/Frozen & Prepared Meals

SECONDARYCRAHAFAK

Kosher & Jewish Grocery Stores

Consumer Products & Retail/Grocery & Food Retail/Ethnic & International Grocery Stores

Keywords

• Deli sandwiches
• Catering services
• Kosher-style deli
• Restaurant chain
• Packaged retail foods

Headquarters

HQ city

Crested Butte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Dine-in and Takeout Sales: Revenue from customers dining at physical locations or ordering takeout. Includes sales of sandwiches, soups, sides, and beverages at restaurant prices.
2. Delivery Services: Revenue generated through delivery partners, allowing customers to order Izzy's food for home delivery within 30 minutes.
3. Catering Services: Catering orders for events from 15 to 5,000 guests, including sandwich trays, Izzytizers, and desserts. 24-hour notice requested for catering orders.
4. Retail Grocery Sales: Sale of Izzy's branded products including Famous Jewish Rye bread, Famous Honey White bread, and Pickles through Kroger grocery stores.
5. Gift Cards: Gift cards sold in denominations from $5.00 to $100.00, available at all locations and online with free shipping for online purchases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Izzy's operates a regional delicatessen restaurant brand built around signature Reuben sandwiches, award-winning chicken noodle soup, and 120-year-old potato pancake recipes, sold through dine-in service, takeout, drive-thru, third-party delivery, online ordering, event catering (15 to 5,000 guests), and retail packaged products (Jewish Rye bread, Honey White bread, pickles) distributed via Kroger.

Product overview

Izzy's is a Cincinnati-based delicatessen founded in 1901, operating as a single unified restaurant brand with multiple physical locations (Elm Street, Florence, Forest Park, Monroe opening 2026, Red Bank, Western Hills) plus retail products at Kroger. The core offering centers on Reuben sandwiches (branded as 'World's Greatest Reubens'), award-winning chicken noodle soup (voted best in Cincinnati for 16 consecutive years), and famous potato pancakes. The product portfolio includes signature sandwiches (corned beef, pastrami, turkey), specialty sandwiches (Izzy's Hot Brown, Tuna Melt), wraps, salads, and a full kids menu. Desserts include limited-time offerings (Key Lime Pie, Apple Crunch) and regular items (Vanilla Bean Cheesecake, Carrot Cake). Services include dine-in, takeout, delivery through third-party partners, online ordering via Toast Tab, online group ordering, and catering for 15 to 5,000 guests. Retail products (Jewish Rye bread, Honey White bread, Pickles) are sold through Kroger. Gift cards are available at all locations in $5-$100 denominations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• World's Greatest Reuben Sandwiches Izzy's signature Reuben sandwiches made with corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Izzy's special dressing on rye bread. Available in seven varieties including Famous, Pastrami, Turkey, Reubenator, Goetta, Veggie, and Beef Frank. Served to dine-in, takeout, delivery, and catering customers.
• Chicken Noodle Soup Homemade chicken noodle soup made with tender chicken, bow-tie noodles, fresh vegetables, and slow-simmered broth. Voted Best Chicken Noodle Soup in Cincinnati for 16 consecutive years at the Wise Brother's Temple competition. Available at all restaurant locations.
• Potato Pancakes Izzy's signature crispy potato pancakes made with the same recipe for over 120 years, served with sandwiches or as a standalone item. Available on the dine-in and catering menu.
• Corned Beef Sandwiches Izzy's world-famous corned beef sandwiches including Uncle Ron, Corned Beef Egg Salad, Izzy Mex, Corned Beef & Swiss, and corned beef on rye with sauerkraut and Swiss. Sold to dine-in, takeout, delivery, and catering customers.
• Izzy's Pickles (restaurant and retail) Izzy's famous crisp, tart kosher-style pickles served complimentary in restaurants and packaged for retail sale in Kroger stores.
• Full Deli Sandwich Menu Full deli sandwich menu including beef frank, all-beef salami, roast beef, pastrami, turkey breast, meat loaf, chicken salad, egg salad, tuna salad, tuna melt, and specialty sandwiches. Available across all restaurant locations.
• Key Lime Pie Limited-time seasonal dessert featuring cookie crumb base, creamy Key lime mousse made with real Key limes, topped with whipped cream and toasted coconut. Available during summer months at all locations.
• Apple Crunch New dessert featuring ultra-buttery graham cracker crust, layers of tart apples with Amish-style filling, and golden cinnamon crumb topping. Available at all Izzy's locations.
• Vanilla Bean Cheesecake Cheesecake on graham crust, flavored with vanilla bean, topped with vanilla bean mousse. Regular menu dessert item available at all locations.
• Beer and Wine Full bar service including domestic beers (Budweiser, Bud Light, Miller Lite, Michelob Ultra), craft and import beers (Sam Adams, Goose Island IPA, Stella Artois, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale), and wine by the glass (Merlot, Cabernet, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Riesling). Available at Western Hills and other locations that serve alcohol.
• Gift Cards Gift cards available at all locations in denominations from $5 to $100. Valid for any menu items including sandwiches, soups, and potato pancakes. Can be reloaded and replaced if lost with receipt. Online orders of $25 and $50 cards include free shipping.
• Retail Products at Kroger Izzy's branded packaged products sold at Kroger stores including Izzy's Famous Jewish Rye bread, Izzy's Famous Honey White bread, and Izzy's Pickles in the refrigerated section. Available to grocery shoppers for at-home consumption.
• Kids Menu Kids meals for children under 14 featuring corned beef, turkey, hot dog, cheeseburger, grilled cheese, and chicken nuggets. Served with choice of mandarin oranges, applesauce, or mini potato pancakes, plus a beverage.
• Catering Services Catering for groups from 15 to 5,000 guests including Izzytizers (mini sandwich platters), sandwich trays, and desserts. 24-hour notice requested. Orders placed via phone at (513) 369-0245.
• The Bengal King (Joe Burrow Sandwich) Specialty sandwich honoring Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow featuring overstuffed Reuben on grilled marble rye with potato pancake and pickles, priced at $11.99.
• The Codfather Lent special sandwich featuring North Atlantic cod encrusted in Izzy's special batter, with lettuce and tartar sauce on a brioche bun. Served with choice of potato pancake or coleslaw. Available seasonally during Lent.
• Tomato Basil Soup Limited-time soup made with ripe tomatoes and fresh basil. Meat-free option offered for Lent Fridays and added to regular menu.

Quantifiable outcome

• Best Chicken Noodle Soup in Cincinnati - 16 consecutive years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• KrogercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIzzy's products are sold through Kroger grocery stores in the refrigerated section. Products include Izzy's Famous Jewish Rye, Izzy's Famous Honey White bread, and Izzy's Pickles. This partnership allows customers to purchase Izzy's branded products for at-home consumption and extends the brand beyond restaurant locations.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Schlotzsky's: National sandwich chain founded in 1971 with proprietary original sandwich concept. Comparable deli-style sandwich chain with catering operations and franchised unit model, operating at significantly larger scale.
• Jersey Mike's Subs: Fast-growing sub sandwich franchise with 2,500+ locations. Comparable as a counter-service sandwich chain emphasizing fresh ingredients, with strong catering program, but operates at franchise-scale versus Izzy's independent model.
• Potbelly Sandwich Shop: Public sandwich chain (NASDAQ: PBPB) with toasted sandwiches and catering. Comparable limited-service sandwich restaurant with catering operations and multi-channel ordering, but at vastly greater scale and national footprint.
• Bruegger's Bagels: National bagel and sandwich chain owned by Einstein Noah Restaurant Group. Comparable as a deli-style sandwich chain with retail bakery products, but operates at much larger scale across broader geographies.

Direct peers

• Canter's Delicatessen: LA-based Jewish deli operating since 1931 with 24-hour service, traditional Reuben and corned beef sandwiches, and a bakery. Comparable multi-generational family Jewish deli with strong regional brand equity.
• 2nd Avenue Deli: NY-based Jewish delicatessen with kosher-style menu featuring pastrami, corned beef, and Reuben sandwiches. Comparable as a multi-location heritage Jewish deli with catering operations and retail packaged products.
• Schwartz's Deli: Montreal smoked meat deli founded in 1927. Comparable historic Jewish-style deli with signature cured-meat sandwich, traditional preparation, and strong tourist/local dual-customer base.
• Mile End Delicatessen: Montreal/Brooklyn Jewish deli with traditional smoked meat sandwiches and bagels. Comparable modern heritage Jewish deli expanding beyond original market with retail packaged goods.
• Katz's Delicatessen: Iconic NYC Jewish deli founded in 1888, famous for pastrami and Reuben sandwiches. Directly comparable heritage Jewish-style deli with similar menu (Reubens, corned beef, knishes) and brand-loyal customer base.
• Langer's Delicatessen: LA Jewish deli famous for pastrami sandwiches since 1947. Comparable single-category-focused Jewish deli with cult following, traditional recipes, and limited multi-location footprint.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/izzysreubens
• Facebookfacebook.com/IzzyKadetz
• Instagraminstagram.com/izzysreubens/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/izzys-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Izzy's