Jon Streep in Alidoro.
Two of Jon Streep’s fondest memories growing up involve the love of food preparation.
The first was making his parents breakfast in bed as young as age six. “And not just toast and coffee,” said the now 34-year-old, whose family moved to New Canaan from New Jersey in 1991, when he was in fifth grade. “Pancakes, eggs, bacon and more.”
Years later, when attending New Canaan High School, the Streep house was the place to be for his friends to hang out and get fed … by Jon.
“I was the guy cooking stuff late at night, or making all kinds of experimental sandwiches,” he said. “Some good, some not so good.”
College and successful but ultimately unfulfilling jobs followed, before Streep finally figured out what he wanted, which was to own and run a food service business.
And now that’s exactly what he’s doing.
It’s called Alidoro, is one of New York City’s most famous upscale Italian sandwich shops, and just opened its second location, at 18 E. 39th St., after building its reputation and devoted customer base at its original location on Spring Street in SoHo since 1986.
Streep came upon Alidoro like so many other New Yorkers, simply seeking a great place for lunch. But for over a decade before that encounter, he tried a few different careers. This was after spending many happy years in New Canaan.
“I went to West Elementary School and NCHS,” said Streep, the oldest of four siblings. “We loved it when we moved to New Canaan. It was like a dream come true. There was more space and we could stretch out.
“My first year in town I was the new guy, but I made loads of friends fast. To this day, all of my best friends are from high school, not college (U. of New Hampshire). I played football and was a volunteer at the Congregational Church. I like to think that I gave as much as I could.”
A solid work ethic was also part of Streep’s DNA. He worked at the Veggie Barn during high school years. “Growing up my first job was baling hay,” he said. “I also was a waiter, poured concrete, delivered pizza … every job you could think of. It taught me how to work hard, regardless of what I was doing.”
Personable and upbeat by nature, Streep graduated college with a degree in political science, then got a job at a large marketing/public relations firm in New York. He stayed for six years, and while he knew it wasn’t likely going to be his career, the experience proved vital.
“It was the hospitality business, and I had a passion for it,” he recalled. “Part of my job was finding the best underground bars, the best restaurants and more. I was working with CEOs, doing things I never could have otherwise. I was lucky. It started a fire in me that never went out.”
Streep’s company moved its offices to SoHo during his time there.
“I’ll never forget it; one day a colleague said, ‘You should go try Alidoro for lunch,’ I did, and instantly knew it was something special.”
The man behind Alidoro was and is Walter Momente, who’s been sourcing and making all of the ingredients, creating the sandwiches and overall running Alidoro since he fully took over the SoHo shop in 2001. His attention to detail goes back to his childhood in Italy, where he was brought up making pizzas and other Italian dishes in his parents’ restaurant, pizzeria or supermarket.
A virtual one-man operation, Momente had no time to even consider opening a second location, which is where Streep came in.
“It was a decade after college an I wasn’t loving what I was doing,” said Streep. “I knew I wanted to work for myself, creating my own destiny, regardless of the security or competition.
“The food itch had never gone away. I was a regular customer at Alidoro, and had gotten friendly with Walter. I had some concepts of how Alidoro could grow, so I went to see him and we started talking seriously.”
Momente said he’d had a lot of offers to grow his business over the years, but never felt comfortable with anyone until Streep came along. They decided to move forward, and found the unfinished space on 39th Street. They brought in Tommy Polihronopoulos, of NYC Perfect Builders, to transform what were old offices into a vibrant storefront business.
“The idea was for somebody to build another location, then run it,” said Momente. “We all have different skills. I’m the food person, Jon’s in charge of the staff and running the business day to day, and Tommy’s the builder. You don’t want two cooks in the same place, so we all bring unique ideas for Alidoro, now and in the future.”
Within days of opening, word spread and the line at Alidoro was out the door for lunch. With 15 workers inside, it moves fast. The long, visually pleasing space includes Venetian-inspired stucco-pained walls, a long bar running the length of the restaurant, and tables and benches seating 40.
Momente has perfected the 40-plus cold-only sandwiches over the years.
“One of the things we don’t do is allow people to make their own sandwich,” explained Streep. “The reason is that each has been carefully composed. We’re very particular with what combinations are used, and how they’re used.
“And sandwiches are cold because raw is how these kinds of foods taste best.”
Streep pointed out that quality trumps all at Alidoro.
“We have seven kinds of bread, from five different vendors,” he said. “I could easily get all the bread from one vendor, but we like specific breads from specific vendors.”
As the manager at 39th Street, Streep’s eyes and ears are always open. “I want to know what customers think,” he said. “A lot of new customers don’t get the cold concept right away. Then they try a sandwich and they get it.”
Alidoro is also open for breakfast to serve the masses that emerge from nearly Grand Central Station on their way to work. Streep says office catering is also gaining a solid foothold.
Streep is working way more than he ever did in the corporate world, and loving it.
“Some days I’m up at 3 a.m.,” he said. “There’s just so much to do, even when we’re not open. I’m trying to focus on the now, even though I have all kinds of ideas for the future. But now is the time to perfect what we have.
“I called my folks the other day and told them that I finally found what I should be doing with my life.”
More info: alidoronyc.com