Since Eli’s Deli opened in May inside of the Osher Marin Jewish Community Center, owner Dawn Daabul has been nourishing both the stomachs and the soul of the community.
Daabul moved to the United States from Israel when she was 12 and now offers authentic Israeli and Jewish items that are not easily found in the rest of Marin. From breakfast bourekas to kugen-aman pastries, the deli’s offerings fill a gap in the Santa Venetia neighborhood, which has limited restaurant options. Because entry to the deli doesn’t require a Jewish Community Center membership, Daabul gives the broader Marin community a chance to try homestyle Jewish cuisine and to support and uplift Jewish and Israeli families.
Formerly a psychotherapist, Daabul was excited to serve the community in a new way after working remotely from home for 15 years. A large focus for her has been supporting others.
“My career before was about creating safe space too, and so this felt just like an extension of that, but also to really be able to nourish people in a really concrete way,” Daabul explains.
Inspired by her father-in-law Eli (the deli’s namesake), who was a second-generation grocer in Israel, Daabul decided to start her own business. She wanted to become more involved and connected to the community, something Eli’s Deli has allowed her to do over the past six months. The deli has further connected her to her culture and the community, as well as enabled her to share different aspects of this culture with many who may not have experienced or known about these traditions before.
Community outreach sits at the heart of Eli’s Deli, as Daabul aims both to nourish and support the broader community. She focuses especially on helping Jewish and Israeli families, particularly after the beginning of the war in Gaza.
“The last couple of years have been hard for Jewish businesses,” she says. “So being able to support one another has been really meaningful.”
Eli’s Deli is integral to the Jewish Community Center, assisting the organization in a variety of ways. They host the hot lunch program for the school on site of the JCC, Brandeis Marin; cater for Brandeis and the JCC as a whole; and collaborate with the synagogue on campus, Congregation Rodef Sholom.
“It’s all really intertwined,” Daabul says. Additionally, she works with local artists to display their work on the deli’s walls and partners with Marin small businesses for ingredients and products. She values these partnerships, as they connect her with the community in tangible ways and bring something new and interesting to customers. Her support also extends into the small details, as she ensures toys, games and books are available for kids to help out parents. “I just want to support the community however I can,” she shares.
Looking forward, Daabul hopes to expand locations, menu options, the hot lunch program and opening days, as the deli is currently closed on weekends. Still, her primary focus is on building a sustainable business during the first 12 months.
“I really feel like the first year is a lot of just learning and figuring things out and how to do it, especially when you’re new to this business,” she says.
The future looks bright for Eli’s Deli and Daabul, with customers happy and deli visits increasing by the day.
Eli’s Deli is open from 7am to 5pm weekdays at 200 North San Pedro Rd. in San Rafael. For more information, call 628.214.8283 or visit instagram.com/elisdelimarin.
