New deli won't heat purchases for you

[mojowork_n]

There's a new deli by my house that has dozens and dozens (maybe hundreds) of different items. Floor space that makes "Zabar's" (upper West Side of Manhattan, the biggest deli I'd been in before today) look like a second-hand, cramped, small-time operation. The live lobster tank must have a capacity in the 100's of gallons...

Only they made me feel like a total schmuck. I was really hungry and asked for a "belly buster burrito". The guy behind the counter said he couldn't heat it for me. Store policy.

So I was made to understand, immediately, that since I didn't live in one of the zillion-dollar high-rise condo's that have taken over the neighborhood, and I don't have an all-stainless steel kitchen in which to heat up the purchase, myself, they didn't want my business.

Is that unusual, or do other places operate the same way? The void in my belly was making objectivity impossible.

[babylonsister]

1. You're lucky you have delis!

I live in Houston and there are no authentic ones to be had here. Boy, I miss them rolls, bagels, I miss that roast beef, I could go on!

[Bossy Monkey]

2. I'm having trouble following. It seems if there's that much floorspace

it must primarily be a sit-down restaurant. Thus it seems the height of craziness for them to sell only cold burritos, but maybe I'm just being confused. Anyway, talk to the manager or write a letter; you'll probably at least get a free coupon out of it.

[miss_kitty]

3. yeah be polite and nice

tell them how you were really looking forward to their presence and this was totally disappointing...politeness will generally get you free stuff...

[Xithras]

4. Simple reason for this.

In many cities, a deli is considered a grocery store because they only sell cold or "unprepared" foods. By heating the burrito, it becomes "prepared", and you have to have a restaurant license to sell food that can be immediately eaten. The distinction may seem small, but the legal differences in the laws and regulations governing restaurants and grocery stores are huge.

Now, why they don't provide a microwave so YOU could heat it up after paying is a different story, and it something you'd have to ask them yourself. Maybe the microwave loophole* has been closed in your area, or maybe they're worried about liability (*microwave loophole: commonly used by quickie marts and gas stations to skirt restaurant laws, the loophole works by permitting them to sell you an unprepared item, and then forcing you to prepare it yourself using facilities they provide at no charge. As long as you don't eat it on their premises, they aren't a restaurant).