The new interior at Canalfront Sandwich Shop, 21-41 Main St., is completely revamped from anything that's been in the space before. Tin ceilings and polished wood floors give it a rustic feel. (PHOTOS BY HEATHER N. GRIMMER / CONTRIBUTOR)

ENP STAFF REPORTS
news@eastniagarapost.com

---

Numerous cafes and coffee shops have tried to operate at 21-41 Main Street since Bob and Dawn Leiser moved to Lockport 15 years ago. So the former military couple is going to try something meatier — a good old fashioned deli.

Canalfront Sandwich Shop, offering speciality sandwiches, soups and salads, opened quietly on Friday, with large portions and take-out boxes for those that couldn't finish them. Among their first customers were Lockview Plaza owner, Elmer Granchelli, his wife Vel, and daughter Renee. The Lockport trio raved about the food, some of which they had to take with them at the end of their meal.

Bob Leiser discusses why Lockport needed a deli. In the foreground sits an oil lamp. There's one on every table. Behind him are old newspaper articles  highlighting historic Lockport.

Bob Leiser said Canalfront fills a need for deli sandwiches in Lockport, making hearty food for blue-collar workers with nine different meats from U.S. Foods — plus chicken, egg, and tuna salad — and eight types of bread from Portage Bakery in Canada, including white, whole wheat, Italian, sourdough, Texas toast and three types of rye.

Specialty sandwich selections include pastrami on rye, vegetarian, assorted, grilled cheese, peanut butter and jelly, and the Big Z — egg salad with ham, bacon and provolone cheese served on grilled Italian bread.

Before a single sandwich could be made, though, the Leisers completely recreated the space that was most recently Artz Gallery Cafe. The interior is done in what one might call an "old canal" style with hardwood floors and wood throughout, tin ceilings and bold red on the walls. Oil lamps adorn each table and historic newspaper stories and photos line the walls.

Canalfront Sandwich Shop also serves salads — grilled chicken, julienne and garden — a soup of the day, and homemade chili. The chili served Friday was made by Dawn. It started off slow, built, and had a kick at the end, just like Bob likes.

Retired from the Air Force after 31 years, Leiser says he's looking forward to the challenge of running Canalfront. "This is something fun for me to do for another 10 years."

Open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Canalfront Sandwich Shop offers dine-in, take-out and delivery. Their phone number is 433-3055. Orders may also be faxed to 433-3077.

The sandwich shop will hold a grand opening on Monday.

The Granchellis — Vel, Elmer and Renee — were happy customers Friday afternoon. Behind them, Canalfront owners, Bob and Dawn Leiser pause from working momentarily for a photo.

---

East Niagara Post now publishes garage and yard sales.
Click here for all the details.