By Ofelia Saenz, Staff Writer
When Levon Guyumjan had his first taste of buffalo meat a few years ago in a San Francisco restaurant, he was really impressed. It was a pricey steak he said, about $40, but worth every bite. The next time he traveled to the Bay area, he went back to the same restaurant, this time he tried the ostrich–again, he was pleasantly surprised.
A new fan of exotic meats, Guyumjan was disappointed to find they were not easily acquired near his home in Long Beach.
A year later, after a spinal injury forced the former electrician into early retirement, Guyumjan decided he would buy a small store and try his hand at retail–he’s always had an adventuresome soul, he said. Remembering how much he had enjoyed eating exotic meats in Northern California, he saw this as an opportunity to fill a need.
Guyumjan opened A.B.S. Market and Deli in 2005 with the intention of bringing something special to the neighborhood. His selection of imported meats and cheeses, as well as exotic game, make for a unique deli counter. Whether it’s Italian mortadella with smoked provolone or young pheasant with dill havarti, these sandwiches are anything but average.
“I’m trying to sell things that Ralph’s and Trader Joe’s [don’t carry],” Guyumjan said. “I’m trying to be different from the other guys.”
A.B.S. Market and Deli is different.
From the street, it may look like just another unassuming liquor locker, but inside, the shelves are stocked with an array of imported delights such as vegetarian stuffed peppers or special Turkish candies with pistachio, hazelnut and almonds. Specialty items such as pistachio oil can be found alongside premium olive oils and grapeseed oil.
While Guyumjan’s larger competition may carry a few of the same items as his shop does, it’s probably safe to assume no other store on the block stocks bitter orange marmalade and rose petal jam down one aisle, peppermint/hibiscus tea with tiglio lime flowers down the next aisle, and lamb merguez sausage, wild boar andouille and kangaroo medallions in the freezer.
“You’ve got to try different things, to change things around,” Guyumjan said. “Then you benefit not just yourself, but everybody.”
A.B.S. Market and Deli is located at 1605 East Wardlow Road in Long Beach. For more information or to place a sandwich order, call (562) 989-8109.
