Massi, Sarah, Audrey and Mina Baghvardani, the owners of the Brown Bag Deli, say it will be the loyal customers they will miss the most when they close their establishment today after 42 years.

Massi came to Oklahoma from Iran to study chemistry at Oklahoma City University.
“I put myself through school by working in restaurants,” he said.

And, he never quit. Massi opened the Brown Bag Deli in 1978 in Nichols Hills. Three years later, he met Sarah.

 They were married 36 years ago and had daughters Audrey and Mina. Brown Bag Deli was in operation for 21 years on the plaza.

The deli then moved to its second location, off of Western. The family has been serving its popular curry chicken salad, chicken lentil soup and other fresh salads, soups and sandwiches there for the last 21 years, too.

Massi smoked all of his own meats. Everything was made from scratch.

The Baghvardanis served a third generation of customers.

“They came in when they were young and they had children,” Sarah said. “Now, their children are bringing their children in.”

“We have had very loyal customers. We are very blessed.”

At first, Massi said the Brown Bag Deli was open 7 days a week, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. It was only closed on Christmas Day and New Years Day. When he met Sarah, Massi said he pared back to 6 days and then 5 days, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. They did close for personals vacations.

Now, he said, it is time for them to take some time off. Massi said he has also been a cattle rancher for the plast 20 years and he plans to devote his energies to that. 

Plans are to turn the family recipes into a cookbook for all to enjoy. The contents of the restaurant will be sold at auction.

Audrey said her parents have taught her a lot about communicating with people, managing money and serving people.

“I’m blessed to have two great parents.”

Massi and Sarah agreed that it’s “been a good ride.”

“I am going to miss this — mostly the people,” Massi said. “I never knew saying goodbye would be so hard.”