When three longtime friends from Montclair, New Jersey—Noah Holton-Raphael, Max Bahramipour, and Jack Biebel—decided to bring the warmth and tradition of their East Coast deli experiences to Los Angeles, they launched Ggiata Delicatessen with a simple mission: to create a new kind of neighborhood deli. Shortly after introducing their menu through a cloud kitchen in the late spring of 2020, the company found its way to Creative Space’s attention, quite literally. One of our interns at the time, Mara Lorin—who was also writing for USC’s Daily Trojan—mentioned this new sandwich concept she was covering and offered to bring in a sampling of their fare. Intrigued, we tasted Ggiata’s creations and were instantly impressed by the food’s authenticity, depth of flavor, and pure deliciousness.

Our team recognized that Ggiata, driven by the founders’ passion for Italian-style deli traditions and high-quality local ingredients, had the potential to become a beloved institution in Los Angeles. With Ggiata’s early success and growing loyal following, we stepped in as both consultant and broker, helping to craft a real estate strategy that would guide this emerging brand beyond its cloud kitchen origins. Drawing on our experience in scaling nascent concepts into globally influential brands—such as our work with Blue Bottle Coffee—we sought to create a growth plan that would carefully balance operational efficiency with the personal, community-rooted experience at the heart of Ggiata’s identity.

Together, we began by identifying the perfect flagship location. We settled on a former noodle shop at 5009 Melrose Avenue in historic Melrose Hill, a site at the crossroads of some of LA’s most storied and diverse neighborhoods. From this first brick-and-mortar store, Ggiata captured the warmth and familiarity of East Coast delis and introduced it to the melting pot that is Los Angeles. With each subsequent location—West Hollywood, Venice, Highland Park, Studio City, and more in the pipeline—Ggiata has remained faithful to that sense of welcoming neighborhood hospitality, while also continuously refining their operations and brand presence.

As Ggiata expanded, Creative Space helped the company develop a hub-and-spoke strategy that would allow them to keep quality and consistency at the forefront. This strategy guided the planning of a state-of-the-art commissary at the Melrose Hill location, ensuring that fresh ingredients and expert preparation could seamlessly support every store. Along the way, we prioritized brand continuity, drew on the expertise of thoughtfully selected architects and consultants, and orchestrated a site selection process that would set Ggiata up to thrive in diverse markets.

With a bright future ahead—and an ambitious vision to elevate its standing from a beloved neighborhood deli to a global leader in fast-casual dining—Ggiata is poised to become a definitive part of Los Angeles’ culinary tapestry. And through it all, Creative Space’s role as trusted advisor, facilitator, and strategic partner remains steady, helping guide the brand toward sustainable, impactful growth.