Title: Owner
Company: NY Deli & Grill
Location: Vallejo, CA
Education: High School Diploma, Hogan High School, Vallejo, CA (2009)
Career History: Owner, NY Deli & Grill, (2021-Present);
With, Deli, NY;
With, Construction;
With, Ice cream place;
Former Deli Worker
Odai Yafai, Owner of NY Deli & Grill, has been recognized as a Marquis Emerging Leader for their contributions and achievements in the field of food service.
After living in New York City and working in one of the city’s most recognizable food providers, Mr. Yafai decided to open a New York-style deli in his California community. After spending a decade in the city, he wanted to recreate the unique tastes New York delis and bodegas have to offer with the personality of the city. Furthermore, he saw the need in his community to have a spot that is open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with fresh food available.
Mr. Yafai’s considers opening his business to be the most notable achievement in his career, as he notes starting a business is never an easy task and requires huge capital. Seeing it come to fruition and having a place he could call his own has definitely been very rewarding. As the owner, Mr. Yafai oversees all aspects of the business. From the moment he steps in the door each morning, he is hands-on with the work, starting with preparing food for the day. He upholds his duty as a manager and carries out all tasks from working as the cashier to the deliveryman.
Notably, Mr. Yafai’s hard work has been recognized with a feature in California News-Times. In the next five years, one of his goals is to expand his restaurant to franchise it. He hopes to open a new location and serve more people. His main objective is to look beyond being a small business and become a larger chain that serves many. He endeavors to build a company that his children can be a part of and make their own someday.