The Sound of Silence
Delicatessen says ciao to old screen door
by Katherine Mills, Staff Writer
Lou Diozani, proprietor of Pecorino Lou’s Delicatessen, has replaced his deli’s creaky screen door for a new, less audible screen door.
Diozani purchased the new door, a stark white metallic design with a Colonial-style weave, at the Lowes in nearby Sutterstown. He tried to match the previous door as much as possible, bringing it to the store with him for comparison, but found they had discontinued producing that model years ago. He wouldn’t disclose what he paid for the new door, but shrugged as if to say, “These things sure don’t cost what they used to!”
Few would automatically notice the subtle difference by eye, but when one listens to the noise (or lack thereof) created by the new screen door, the distinction becomes clear. While some may miss the welcoming off-white color and Italian flag decal of the old entranceway, surely no one will miss the high pitched moan of a 22 year old hydraulic mechanism begging to be replaced. Said Lou, “While I thought that a lot of my customers would miss the old door, I also knew that a lot of them were tired of opening the door and being reminded of that fact for 15 seconds.”
It seems to have been a wise decision. Pecorino Lou’s continues to attract the high volume of hungry Chesterfield Ridgians looking to satisfy their hunger with one of Lou’s town, nay, county-famous Italian classics, from his flagship Veal Parmigiana hero to his trademark ratatouille. The door has just become a delightful bonus that widens customers’ smiles even further. Said longtime patron Joel DiBenzo, “After an especially hectic morning on the site, I really needed me one of Lou’s meatball heroes. So I push open the door like I’ve done almost everyday for 17 years, and before I can even tell Louie, “the regular”, I stop right in my tracks and go quiet. Something was different. And then look back at the door. I felt like I was walking in the place for the first time!”
Aside from the aesthetic benefits it brings, the new door has also quelled concerns by wary deli-goers. Kim White, who has been going to Lou’s since she was a teenager, continues to frequent the deli, often with her rambunctious two year old Rizzo in tow, or rather leading the way. “Rizzo learned to walk a few months ago, and now, he sprints everywhere like he's a little Olympiad! When we go to Lou’s everyday around 11:30 to get his older sister’s lunch, he runs to push open the screen door, and I worry about the rusty bottom with that ragged spring sticking out. With this new door installed, I don’t have a care in the world!”
All in all, the new door seems to be a hit, and Lou couldn’t be happier. Perhaps best of all, without the creaking sound ushering them in, Lou is free to address his smiling customers the way he wants to. “Without the sound of the wailing door, I can give them the bon giorno’s they deserve!”
