Stephanie Spear 
Falls Church staple Celebrity Delly is turning 51 this May, and locals know it’s much more than just a sandwich shop. This longtime neighborhood staple serves classic deli items in a warm, friendly setting at 7263-A Arlington Boulevard. We spoke with co-owner William Thompson about the restaurant’s 50+ year legacy, how it’s evolved, and what’s next. Read on for more about 51 years of Celebrity Delly.
About the Delly
Deli food might be the original fusion cuisine in America. In the late 1800’s, many delicatessans in New York City were opened by Jewish + German immigrants. These stores sold groceries and dry goods and eventually added sandwich counters. Over time, the popularity of the deli items and sandwiches spread, and became synonymous with a neighborhood eatery serving cold cuts, salads, and other prepared items.
Many would argue that one of the core items of a ‘true’ deli is its pastrami: beef brisket that is usually brined, smoked, boiled, and then hand-carved. Without cutting corners, the process can take multiple days, and many delis use their own special blend of spices for the brine + seasonings.
The original Celebrity Delly on Nebel Street in Rockville. Image courtesy of William Thompson.
Chuck + Sharon Rossler founded the Celebrity Delly in 1975 in a career pivot from furniture sales. “He was a real jokester, he wanted to find the humor in everything,” William said, which explains the unusual spelling of ‘deli’. “It was a play on the word ‘belly’ – the implication being that you’d be full in your belly after eating at the deli.”
“Chuck didn’t have a culinary background, but he loved food,” William said. “He always had a critical mind with food, he’d pick apart why a flavor did or didn’t work, he was so passionate about it.”
The Celebrity Delly’s Cabin John location. Image courtesy of William Thompson.
“He started the first location in 1975 in Rockville, and this location in Falls Church opened in 1979.” Over time, the Maryland locations moved or were sold, but the Falls Church location has remained. Chuck wanted to have the focus be on really good deli food. “This area is so transient,” William said. “We have people come in and tell us the food tastes like home, which is the Northeast.”
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The Delly has all the classics you’d expect: enormous sandwiches, knishes, breakfast platters, kosher hot dogs, soups, deli salads, and baked goods, plus catering for Jewish holidays.
Bringing the Delly into the 21st Century
William is a chef and had worked at several restaurants around the DC area before arriving at the Celebrity Delly in 2010. He was dating his now-wife, Julie Rossler-Thompson, who is Chuck + Sharon’s daughter. The familial vibe continues throughout the restaurant. “All of our cooks have been here over 15 years,” he said. “And so many of our other kitchen staff and servers are related, either because they’re siblings or because they’re married and are now in-laws.” Chuck himself set the tone with his welcoming spirit. “He probably knew everyone who came in to dine here,” William said.
Julie Rossler-Thompson + William Thompson; Sharon + Chuck Rossler. Images courtesy of William Thompson.
Julie has been running the restaurant for about 30 years, and William joined her in its operations. Chuck passed away in 2016. Over time, they’ve been putting their own stamp on what Chuck built, while continuing to grow the business. “It’s almost too obvious to say that COVID was hard,” William said. “It was hard on the entire restaurant industry. One of our longtime chefs retired during that time, which forced a lot of changes.”
See more: Northern Virginia Locals to Watch: Makers Edition
After the dust had settled from COVID, Julie, William, and the restaurant appeared on a 2023 episode of Kitchen Commando. The premise of the show is that a celebrity chef helps smaller restaurants with their challenges. The experience was an overall positive one, but it also created a lot of changes in the restaurant. “We went from a sandwich shop to a real restaurant,” he said. “I was happy that it happened. My wife [Julie] felt that her father and his legacy had been seen. The episode was really about reconnecting her with her dad.”
Now, the focus is still on delicious food and a welcoming atmosphere. William says that his strength is trying out new things that could work in the Delly context. “We spent a lot of time in Philadelphia trying Philly cheese steaks,” he said. “And these are serious cheesesteaks – one chef even won a James Beard award for his cheesesteak.”
A historical menu from the Celebrity Delly. Image courtesy of William Thompson.
William came back from that trip and worked with the Delly’s baker to make a seeded sesame roll like what they used in Philadelphia. Now, the cheesesteaks are their own section on the menu. “We added a pastrami bahn mi sandwich and that’s been really popular,” William said. “It combines the flavors of a banh mi sandwich with the pastrami.” He’s done the same thing with other menu items, such as Canadian poutine. Editor’s note: The Celebrity Delly cheesesteak was the top pick for an Ashburn man who tried over 30 of the top-recommended cheesesteaks in the area.
“We also realized we didn’t have a kids’ menu,” he said. “So we added sliders. It’s been a great way for people to be able to try a sandwich without having to commit to the entire thing.” The sliders also have their own section on the menu, with ten different items that can be mixed and matched or made into a whole meal with sides.
Looking Ahead
The Celebrity Delly is a finalist for the 2026 RAMMYs, which are awards presented by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW). The Delly is a finalist in the category of Hottest Sandwich Spot of the Year, for which the parameters are that “the nominee is a casual restaurant, quick-serve, or mobile food vendor with a menu dedicated to creative and delicious sandwiches that demonstrate excellence and skill.”
William said it’s the first time that the Delly has been nominated for this award, despite the business’s longevity. “It’s a validation that we’ve made the right decisions,” he said. “After all these years, the choices that we’ve made and the changes that we’ve made are being seen and recognized.” He said that despite the cliche, it truly is an honor to be nominated. “We’re a family-owned business, and we’re up there with truly the best in the industry here in the area. We’re really proud,” William said.
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Even nearly a decade after Chuck’s passing, his presence is still felt throughout the Delly, in the food, the staff, and the regulars who keep coming back. “He really wanted to bring joy to people through good food,” William said. “And I think we’re still doing that.” Julie said, “My dad really believed in good food. Social media has changed the restaurant industry. We try to combine good food with attention to detail for social media.”
The Barred Conversation List is another part of Chuck’s Legacy.
The Celebrity Delly is located at 7263A Arlington Boulevard in Falls Church. It is open Monday through Saturday from 9AM to 8PM and Sunday from 9AM to 3PM.
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