Florida News

Paper Bag Deli Expanding With Another Gainesville Shop

Paper Bag Deli will open its fourth Gainesville location in mid to late January, offering retro counter-service dining.

GAINESVILLE, FL — Paper Bag Deli is preparing to expand again with a new location at 4780 NW 39th Ave Suite 9, Gainesville, FL 32606, targeted to open between mid to late January, owner Richard Sterck told Business Debut. This location will mark the brand’s fourth Gainesville deli.

What to Expect

The concept follows the retro, fast-casual format the brand is known for. Guests place orders at the counter, and meals are served in paper bags for dine-in or takeout. The interior is expected to offer about 34 seats, with outdoor seating still being finalized.

Sterck described Paper Bag Deli as a balance between traditional deli offerings and scratch-made production. The menu incorporates Boar’s Head meats alongside house-prepared bacon, chicken, pork, and sausage, served on locally baked bread. The space will also include games and family-friendly touches designed to keep guests comfortable while they dine.

Each Paper Bag Deli location features a distinctive element, and the team plans to continue that tradition with the new shop.

Previous examples include housemade pastries at Tower Road, prepared by Sterck’s mother, who bakes for all locations from that store; a weekend lobster roll downtown; and a smoothie bar at the campus shop. The upcoming location will also introduce its own feature, with the exact addition still to be announced.

Sterck highlighted several signature sandwiches, including two crafted in honor of his sons: the Ev DeBev and the Treyway Jay. He also noted the popularity of the Cuban and Man in the Black Hat, both made with house-marinated and house-prepared ingredients.

He added that the company’s growth continues to be guided by its motto, “changing lives one sandwich at a time,” which began as a lighthearted idea and grew into part of the brand’s identity. Sterck said the team hopes to expand its community giveback efforts as it grows.

His wife, Maria, also supports the business on the administrative side and is an integral part of the deli.