Retail-

Bartoni’s Deli & Café & Catering
 

I met Richard Bartoni last year when we both attended a Chamber of Commerce function and later that evening I had the pleasure of attending another business function catered by Bartoni’s Catering. I was impressed by Bartoni’s enthusiasm and professionalism and made a note to contact him for the Tracy Business Journal when an opportunity arose.

   Early in January, I again encountered Richard when I visited the newly opened Bartoni’s Deli & Café at 450 E. 10th Street in Tracy. The deli is located across the street from the courthouse.

    He had only been open for a couple of months, but I was impressed by the décor. It appeared is if the deli had been operating in that location for many years. I was to later learn that Richard went to great lengths to achieve that ambiance.

The entrance to the new Deli across 10th street from the court house.

   When I was finally able to sit and speak with Richard about his business, it was necessary to periodically put the interview on hold while he attended to some special need for one of his customers. That afforded me an opportunity to watch as he worked with a customer who was in the final stages of planning an important social event.

   Richard takes a consulting approach to working with his customers. He listens carefully to what the customer is planning and offers suggestions from his own experience as a caterer. He wants the customer to understand options that are available without trying to change their plans or dominate the process. I listened as he made suggestions and alternatives to ideas that his experience suggests would not be as successful as they might have imagined.

   At an event, Richard tries to arrive early enough to get most of the food presented professionally before the guests arrive, but cannot be too early as he is working with perishable food products. He interacts well with the guests as they arrive and helps to make people feel welcome.

Richard advises a customer about the catering of their event.

Bartoni's has a variety of freshly brewed coffee available.

   Richard is trying to create the look of “Old World” Italy here in Tracy. He has used an interior decorating scheme that provides that look. He visited Disneyland before opening the deli and took notes on how the expert designers can make something brand new also look as if it has been there for a long time.

   In creating his deli, Richard made sure the furnishings and fixtures were not coordinated. This helped achieve the look of having been in place for many years and through several expansions of the business. Boxes are strategically stored where an established deli might put things for a lack of space. Even interior colors were selected to make the deli to appear to look as if it had been at that location for many years. These all conspire to simulate the look and feel of an “Old World” Italian deli where the décor has evolved over the years.

The Bartoni's cold case.

   Where does a person find the experience and training to build such a diverse food services company? The answer for Richard Bartoni is that he comes from a family that has been in the food business for many years.

     Richard worked for the family’s wholesale and retail produce company in the San Francisco bay area as he learned the trade. The long hours and hard work paid off for him when the produce business became highly competitive and he chose to move out to Tracy where he started his catering business. Along the way he learned more while working in the restaurant of the Wente Winery in Pleasanton.

   Opening the Deli here in Tracy has fulfilled a lifelong dream for Richard. He fondly remembers spending time as a child at Bartoni’s Deli in Oakland. Bartoni’s Deli was his grandmother’s deli.  It became a goal of his to someday open a his own deli that would be just like the one he remembers as a child. Richard’s grandmother is ninety-four years old and likes to give advice on running the deli. Her most important advice has been to: “always be friendly.”

The front counter.

   So what are Richard’s plans for the future of Bartoni’s? Richard would like to expand into being a full-service restaurant, but he is not in a hurry. I think we can expect to see the outside patio of the deli be expanded along with evening hours that will allow people to relax on a warm evening and enjoy the ambiance of the restaurant. With a little decorating of the existing facility, the front patio area can be expanded to allow an excellent outdoor eating area.

   You may drop by the deli or call Richard at: (209) 839-1106. You may also view his web site at: Bartoni's Catering.

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