Reuben's Deli and Steakhouse

Constantine Tzemopoulos immigrated to Canada in 1955 at the age of 18. The quiet, unassuming man started working in the food-service industry right away and opened his first restaurant not long after. In 1976, Reuben’s Deli & Steakhouse was created and it became an iconic part of the city by serving Montreal-style smoked meat sandwiches. Constantine was a constant presence until his passing in 2016. Now, his three sons, Jim, Anthony and Adam, run the restaurant with the same values and commitment to quality.

“Seeing people interact with my dad over the years showed us their love for him,” says Adam. “That love exists within the brand. It’s a business, but it’s more than that. It’s a historical part of the city, and when you see all these generations coming in, it’s very moving. It can’t be reproduced. You can’t buy that feeling.”

All three sons grew up learning he in’s-and-out’s of the restaurant industry, but were never pushed into the family business. “Our parents were proponents of school and getting degrees, and doing things outside of the industry,” recalls Adam. “As you get older, you start to realize the value of being able to work with your family. It’s not common to find a place that has managed thrive for so long.”