BEC Please: East Coast-Style Deli Now Open in Capitol Hill

Denver has a lot of great sandwich options, but a newcomer is now filling the need for affordable breakfast and lunch options in Capitol Hill. Jordan’s Deli just opened in the former Melita’s space at 1035 Lincoln Street, and it’s already gaining fans in the neighborhood.

“We had a lot of support” over grand-opening weekend, says owner Jordan Spence. “And every day, it’s a little bit more, a little bit more.”

It’s been “very exciting, very busy, very rewarding,” he adds.

Spence was born and raised in Kissimee, Florida, just south of Orlando, but his family is from New York. “I’ve been in the food industry my whole life,” he says. “My first job was flipping burgers at Steak n Shake.”

He spent most of his career working in the front of house as a server and bartender, including a decade-long stint at a Disney-owned Irish pub. “I learned a lot of my standards and expectations from them, just the quality of what needs to be done — they don’t play,” he notes.

After moving to Denver five years ago, he landed a job at STK Steakhouse. But ultimately, he recalls, “I decided to take a chance on myself and bring some of that East Coast style and service out here.” Fuel & Iron Realty helped him look for a space, and when he walked into what’s now his deli’s home, “I was like, this is it. Everything kind of fell into place. The universe was kind of like, now’s your chance,” he says.

What’s on the Menu

The space is bright and open, with red accents and a long counter where you order. The menu includes breakfast sandwiches, which are available all day starting at 6 a.m. Each sandwich is made-to-order with fresh cracked eggs that can be served over medium, over easy or scrambled. “There’s nothing like getting that over medium or over easy egg and having the yolk all over,” Spence says.

Diners also get a choice of cheese (American, cheddar, Swiss, pepperjack or provolone), bread (white, wheat, sourdough, marble rye, croissant or Kaiser roll) and meat (bacon, sausage or ham). Want your bacon crispy? Sure thing. Prefer maple sausage? Jordan’s can do that.

And, of course, additions like butter and ketchup are also available. “BECSPK, oh yeah,” Spence says, referring to the popular New York bodega order — a bacon, egg and cheese with salt, pepper and ketchup. Breakfast sandwiches with meat are $10, while egg and cheese only are $8 each.

Yes, that’s higher than the pre-pandemic ideal of $5ish or less for a cheap breakfast…but times have changed.

The prices are particularly appealing at lunch, which starts at 10 a.m. Served on Italian bread, 8-inch heroes are $13, while deli sandwiches built on the same bread choices offered at breakfast are just $11. Either come with your choice of deli meats (“all Boar’s Head, only Boar’s Head,” Spence notes) and toppings, which include lettuce, tomato, onion, black olives, banana peppers, potato stix, mayo, mustard and oil & vinegar; a pickle is on the side.

Spence is particularly proud of the meatball parm made according to his mother’s recipe, as well as the chicken Parm with hand-breaded cutlets and an unexpectedly popular offering, sausage and peppers (all $13). Other sandwich options include a $5 PB&J or Fluffernutter.

Jordan’s Deli is also offering chicken tenders, hand-dipped in beer batter and sided with fries for $13. Or try the Rocky Mountain Melt ($15), a pile of fries topped with tenders, cheese, bacon and chives, plus ranch, honey mustard or blue cheese.

“When I was first building my business plan, that’s one of the things I wanted to do, keep it affordable, especially for comfort foods like this,” Spence notes. “We want to be that everyday spot that’s affordable enough to come here two, three, four times a week.”

The deli has a full liquor license and bare-bones bar currently offering bottled and canned beers, cocktails and seltzers, but Spence plans to add draft beer as well.

A Family Affair

Colorado is now home not just for Spence but his parents, who relocated here last year. His brother, who came to town to help with the opening, is moving to Denver for good, too. Many members of Spence’s family served in the military, and a wall at the back of the deli displays their photos, a tribute he hopes will continue to grow. “We love to support and showcase veterans,” he says. “Anybody who would like to bring a photo of themselves or a loved one as a veteran, we’ll add it to the wall.”

Ultimately, he concludes, “I really want to be a staple of downtown Denver — Denver’s go-to deli. I hope the city will accept it and want me to stay.”

Jordan’s Deli is located at 1035 Lincoln Street and is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit jordansdelidenver.com or follow @jordansdelidenver on Instagram.