Abe’s Deli was established September 5, 2001 by Joseph Hessling and Bekim Pellumbi. Joe and Bekim literally walked into metro businesses to spread the word of their young deli and catering services ripe with innovative, homemade menu items. Many times the pair relied on family, friendships and past work relationships to get in company doors.
Today, thanks to their dedication to premier catering with a delightful
menu and superior service, their winning reach has grown far and wide.
Meet Joseph HesslingJoe has a family tradition in the food service and hospitality industry spanning four generations. It was no wonder he chose it as his passion and profession. After years of training in the family food service supply business, Joe purchased the business from his father at the age of 20. Joe worked at building Suburban Food Service until selling the business in 1999. Soon after, he teamed up with lifelong friend Bekim Pellumbi to form local catering legend Abe’s Deli. Joe is particularly proud to boast that Abe's uses the finest ingredients prepared by experienced NSF certified chefs to create more than what your average deli can provide. He still likes to remind folks that first they were a “little deli that loved to make you a Rueben”.
Joe's latest crusade is the corporate dining experience that he and his partners are currently providing through their revolutionary company Sterling Services, designed to bring a delicatessen concept to the workplace. The staff bakes its breads fresh daily, prepares soup from scratch, and offers premium meats and cheeses and signature salads - all within an on-site deli-fresh café corporate location.
Joe is also thrilled to kick-off an efficient new service for his Abe’s Deli catering clients: all-new “pick & click” online ordering. Try it out to experience how Abe’s Deli continually improves in catering to your needs.
Meet Bekim PellumbiBekim has more than 20 years experience in all stages of the culinary trade. Starting at a young age, he began working for the Michigan-based Machus Restaurants as a cook. After realizing his passion for the industry, Bekim moved on to open the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham, MI as Assistant Chef. Bekim then moved to Chicago to study at Kendall College in Evanston, IL and worked at the Ritz Carlton Hotel to further his training. Upon graduation Bekim was hired as the Executive Sous Chef at the prestigious Mid America Club, working with Executive Chef Konrad Meir among other great Chefs. After his tenure at the Mid America Club, Bekim was hired for the Executive Sous Chef position at Oakland Hills Country Club in his hometown of Birmingham, MI.
Bekim’s passion and skill as a classically trained certified Chef brings Abe’s Deli customers a creative, energetic menu featuring the freshest ingredients and an outstanding selection to cater to your taste.
His commitment to growth is being demonstrated in his most recent business foray, as a Partner and Executive Chef at Abe’s Deli and affiliate Sterling Services.
Meet AbeOops! There is no Abe at Abe’s Deli. We just thought it was a good name for a deli!
So, we’ll just make up a fictional Abe. Abe is a professional tuba player since the tender age of 3, when he mastered the kazoo. Abe just loved Corned Beef and Egg salad sandwiches. Abe was saddened by the lack of delis that offered great service and excellent quality. On a whim, Abe quit his day job as a successful mortgage broker and opened a small deli. He partnered with excellent talents of Joe and Bekim, whom he met at a retrospective Abba concert. Before Abe knew it, he was seen munching on delicious salads and taking awesome party trays home for his children’s birthdays.
He enjoys his corned beef and egg salad daily. Abe is one satisfied ex-mortgage-broker-tuba-playing-deli owner.