James Bairaktaris 1/29/22 James Bairaktaris 1/29/22

Oscar’s Deli Mural provides Company during Light Lunch Rush

`The mural as shown in the background of this photo taken on Oscar's last day of business. “Some of the Oscar regulars gathered at the deli for the last time today.” Photo by Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com`

With howling winds and snowfall outside, Rye Ridge Deli’s grills remained hot as one of the only places serving meals in the community during the storm. The lunch rush today was on the lighter side - however, the lunch crowd of 1982 remains steadfast as the original Oscar’s mural, painted by Pamela Markoya, sits above the booths.

Oscar’s Deli, a Main Street mainstay, closed its doors in 2016 after 46 years of service. Oscar’s owner and community member Lee Papageorge made the hard decision to close while battling illness, his family announcing August 1st, 2016 as the final day of operation. The community lost Lee just nine days later.

That Winter, Rye Ridge Deli operators - who have locations in Rye Brook, NY and Stamford - began renovations to the space and opened Rye Ridge Deli in the historic Main Street storefront in 2017.

The tradition of Oscar’s was not lost on the new owners. Markoya’s mural was pulled from the Oscar’s wall and placed onto the wall of the new deli as a nod to Lee and the team of regulars who frequented the deli counter or passed by the landmark barber chair for their usual lunch orders. A part of Westport community’s history, the mural includes handwritten names of those captured by the artist - allowing Lee to continue to watch over even the slowest of lunch services, even during snow storms like today’s.