Inside the Utterly Bleak Scene at Dean and DeLuca’s Big Soho Store

The apocalyptic scene continues at Dean & DeLuca’s Soho flagship — as of Monday afternoon, the gourmet grocer’s produce baskets remained empty, as was its deli, and the sushi counter was out of service. Empty shelves held just a few packaged foods, while employees stood silently at their posts, offering little to no explanation for the vast lack of food.

Despite its dreary appearance, floor manager Mohammed Rahman says the store isn’t closing but rather undergoing renovations. Several signs that read “Please pardon our appearance as we prepare for renovations” are now strung about the store, located at 560 Broadway at Prince Street. Rahman says he hasn’t been told much about the renovations or when they’re supposed to start.

The once-successful grocer has been cut off by many U.S. vendors and suppliers after failing to pay them, which would explain the lack of products in Soho. Dean and DeLuca is reportedly still serving coffee in its cafe Midtown New York Times building, but it abruptly closed its Upper East Side location in June as well as its newly opened Meatpacking restaurant Stage.

It’s quite the fall for the grocery, which has been a destination for artisanal goods since it opened in 1977. For now, the Soho store is still open, but there’s not much to buy there. Take a look at the scene on Monday.