Downtown Duluth Loses A Local Favorite Lunch Spot

One of my favorite places to grab a bite to eat in Downtown Duluth during lunchtime is closing its doors, with its last day being July 27.

During the pandemic, many local restaurants had to close their doors. One of the first to re-open was Valentini's Deli in the Holiday Center. Unfortunately for those like me downtown, the Deli location is closing.

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It's been a favorite because they always had the freshest food. They provided a pasta and salad bar, to-go meals, soups, breadsticks, and other tasty quick food.

Valentini's moved across the hallway a couple of years ago in the Holiday Center and slightly changed their business plan. It remained a popular spot, although there has noticeably been less foot traffic in the skywalk system in recent years compared to before the pandemic. Downtown Duluth has started to recover, but will it ever be as busy as it once was with working professionals, with so many people working remotely?

Valentin's Deli posted a message notifying their customers about the closure and thanked them for their patronage.

"Thursday, July 27th Valentini's will be closing our deli permanently at 2:00 pm. Your loyal patronage has been so appreciated. This decision comes with much trepidation and sadness as we end our 9-year presence in the Holiday Center. - Grazie to all."

This now leaves Subway, The Greenery, and Lyric Restaurant as dining options in the Holiday Center. The Zen House still remains closed since 2020.

For those fans of Valetini's, you can still get their delicious food from their Hermantown Bistro Location at 4960 Miller Trunk Highway.