Dang Nice Deli Opens on Alpine Avenue
The Grand Rapids sandwich shop opened in a former pizza space on November 3 and sold out on its first day.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Dang Nice Deli opened November 3 at 2103 Alpine Avenue in Grand Rapids, in a space that previously housed Franco's Pizza for more than 30 years and later Rico's Deli. The restaurant sold out of its new sandwiches on its first day.
Why it matters
The opening revives a storefront that sat empty after the death of longtime owner Richard "Rico" Nelson last year. Its co-owners, who previously worked together at Garage Bar and Grill, are aiming for an old-school, diner-inspired sandwich shop built on quality and comfort.
The 14-seat indoor dining room and sandwiches priced between $8 and $18 (about $15 on average) mark the deli's launch. Plans to make corned beef and pastrami in-house remain on hold because of Health Department space restrictions.
The players
Dang Nice Deli
A Grand Rapids sandwich shop on Alpine Avenue that opened in a former pizza space with an old-school, diner-inspired menu.
Tyler Dagley
Co-owner of Dang Nice Deli who previously worked with his business partner at Garage Bar and Grill.
Ben Nies
Co-owner of Dang Nice Deli who previously worked with his business partner at Garage Bar and Grill.
The details
The co-owners deep cleaned the building, installed retro decor, and replaced four coolers and two pizza ovens before opening. Bread is sourced daily from Nantucket Baking Company and Motla GR, and the signature Rico sub is stacked with capocollo, salami, provolone, tomato, onion, hot peppers, mayo, and herbed oil and vinegar.
Timeline
Last year: Owner Richard "Rico" Nelson died and the restaurant space sat empty.
November 3: Dang Nice Deli officially opened on Alpine Avenue.
Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Regular operating hours.
Openings & Closings
The reopening of a long-vacant Alpine Avenue storefront follows the pattern of local restaurant turnover tracked in West Michigan dining coverage, where established eateries close and new independents move into the same spaces. The deli's launch adds one more replacement for a site that had sat idle since its last owner's death.
Diners looking for sandwiches in Grand Rapids now have a new 14-seat option on Alpine Avenue open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Regulars can expect rolling specials such as banh mi and Philly roast pork, plus grab-and-go desserts from a local baker, though the house-made corned beef and pastrami are not yet available.
The takeaway
Locals wanting a quick, quality lunch can plan around the shop's Tuesday-through-Saturday hours and its limited indoor seating, with outdoor picnic tables available for warmer days.
Further reading
Explore more Openings & Closings news from around Grand Rapids.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 100.5 The River.
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