Who Remembers the Rebel Deli?

My parents have always told stories about amazing Oxford restaurants that are no longer around. Among those, Mr. Gatti’s Pizza, the Kreme Kup and, of course, the Rebel Deli. They were both in college during the Rebel Deli days and still perk up when anyone says “steamed sandwiches”. I came across a picture of the restaurant on the Restaurant History of Oxford, MS Facebook page and had to share with our readers.
Grey Sellers opened the Rebel Deli in September 1979 and served his last sandwich on May 31, 1985. At the beginning, Rebel Deli was on of the only places in town open past 10:30 p.m., so Sellers capitalized on the late crowd.
“We were open 14 hours a day and would typically do half of our sales in the 2 hour period from 11:00pm to 1:00am,” Sellers said.
In the early ’80s, video games becoming extremely popular. Sellers said he remembers students coming after class and staying until closing to play games like PacMan, Space Invaders, Asteroids, Donkey Kong, Centipede, Frogger, Missile Command, and Pole Position.
Mr. Sellers, let us know next time you break out the steamer. I’d love to see what all the rage is about!
– Kate Sinervo, managing editor, HottyToddy.com, kate.sinervo@gmail.com