Business & Tech

Customers Say Farewell to Kosher Subway

Dec. 12 was the final night of business for Baltimore's Kosher Subway store, located in downtown Pikesville.

The Brombergs of Owings Mills have been fans of the for a few years.

They keep kosher, so the Pikesville restaurant has been the only restaurant where they could get a taste of the popular fast food. There, meats have been made locally, and the food—and the process to prepare it—have been certified kosher.

On Monday night, the store was closing for good.

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In an email to Pikesville Patch, owner Harry Kozlovsky said the business was "supposed to have been just an outside interest" for him. "But three years later, I was still getting pulled into so many directions, without the time or desire."

So he decided to sell it. It will reopen as a non-kosher restaurant, he said. He did not know the date it will open.

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Monday night, the restaurant was full of customers. And the Brombergs were there one last time.

"It's unfortunate the community cannot support it," said David Bromberg, who, with his wife, Dalia, brought their three sons to have dinner.

Two of their children attend , so the Subway was a convenient place to visit. "We wanted to make sure we got here on the last night to give it a proper sendoff," he said.

Yadin Bromberg, 14, said the restaurant is one of his favorites. "It's a good place for Jews to come and eat kosher meat and relax," he said. His favorite meal? The smoked turkey on Italian bread.

His brother, Shar, 7, said he likes the restaurant "because it's delicious. And it's kosher."

Torren Bromberg, 11, prefers to order pastrami as well as the turkey. "It's kosher, and we keep kosher, and it tastes good," he said, noting that there aren't many kosher restaurants from which to choose.

Avi Giyal of Pikesville was also there, waiting in line to use up her Kosher Subway gift card. She said she usually gets salads. But she said she'll "go crazy today" and order a sandwich.

"This is the only kosher Subway in Baltimore, so I guess it will be missed," she said.

The restaurant had good hours, she said. "It was open later—past 8 p.m. while other kosher restaurants are closed."

Kozlovsky posted the following statement on the restaurant's Facebook Page:

"With mixed emotions, we announce that effective after close on Monday, the Kosher Subway in Pikesville will not be kosher. It will reopen as a non kosher Subway. We had a very strong and loyal clientele that developed a strong bond with our longtime staff. They will miss you, too. ... Unlike regular Subways that are cookie-cutter operations, operating a kosher Subway forces certain unusual business compromises and additional time compromises."

To read the rest of his statement, visit the Kosher Subway Facebook Page. To read Pikesville Patch readers' comments about the store closing, visit the Pikesville Patch Facebook page.

The new Subway will be under different ownership, Kozlovsky said.


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