Student-run 'Delissimo' dishes up deli delights

Nicholas Valenzuela Arizona Daily Wildcat Alex Bouzari, owner of Delissimo, gets a slice of pizza for a customer during lunchtime yesterday at the new pizzeria and deli which opened Sept. 8.

Alex Bouzari, owner of the restaurant at 749 N. Park Ave., picked up his 17-month-old son and handed him to his wife who just finished fixing smoothies two doors down.

"It is hard to balance school and the business - especially since we are a family," said Maria Bouzari, a University of Arizona psychology senior who runs both Delissimo and Fruitissimo, 998 E. University Blvd., with her husband and one other employee.

Delissimo is an "authentic" Italian-style deli which, in a couple of days, will feature various breads, meats and soup in addition to pizza and soft drinks, Alex Bouzari said.

He said a half sandwich and soft drink will cost about $2.99 and a full-size one will run about $5.

"It's not generic like Subway," Alex Bouzari said. "Ours (Delissimo) is going to be a traditional bar with live entertainment."

The new deli and pizzeria took possession this week of a computer warehouse previously occupied by neighbor International Computer Technology, 747 N. Park Ave.

Their hope is to turn the warehouse into a cave-theme restaurant and bar where local bands, comedians and artists will perform for an audience and usurp part of the profits.

"We want students to have an open voice and express their talents," said Alex Bouzari, a 25-year-old third-year UA law student. "If the sales are good, they (the performers) might get a percentage of the draw."

The couple is taking a year-long leave of absence from the university to build their business.

Alex Bouzari said the 3,000-square-foot restaurant and bar, which is in the process of obtaining a $2,000 liquor license, should be completed by the spring semester.

"We will be able to sell alcohol along with food, but we won't just sell drinks and we won't sell kegs," Alex Bouzari said.

He said the business cost about $75,000 of his own money for equipment and renovation.

Halima Larroussi, International Computer Technology manager, said she gave the Bouzaris the extra space because she did not use it.

"Alex asked if he could have it and we gave it to him," she said. "It was closed all the time and we just used it for storage."

Larroussi, whose store has been in business for about 10 years, decided to give the space away, free of charge, seven months ago. The property change was effective Monday.

She said Delissimo will help her business because it will draw more customers to the area.