Paul Post photo
By Paul Post
Cameron’s Deli, at 446 Dix Avenue in Queensbury, plans to unveil a major expansion this spring featuring a large building addition and six fuel pumps.
The popular eatery and convenience store is located at the busy intersection of Dix Avenue (Route 32), a heavily traveled corridor linking Glens Falls and Hudson Falls, and Queensbury Avenue, also known as “Airport Road.”
Cameron’s Deli is a franchise, operated by Samer Makhlouf, who leases it from property owner Ibrahim Jamal, who purchased the building and 1.35-acre site four years ago from Kurt Jaeger and Jay Salmon, for $800,000.
“We’re doing well because we bring in everything customers ask for,” Makhlouf said. “We try to keep everything fully stocked. If anybody asks for something we try to get it. They can find anything they want here.”
An addition to the 4,100-square-foot store will create space for more food, grocery and car care items along with indoor seating. At present, outside picnic table seating is only available warm weather months.
Gasoline will be sold under the Cameron’s name, not a large industry brand such as Mobil, Gulf or Sunoco.
Cameron’s carries Boar’s Head deli meats and cheeses and offers a wide variety of sandwich items including its famous Cluck’en Russian, a chicken cutlet topped with melted Muenster cheese, several slices of bacon, and Russian dressing, all on a toasted hard roll.
Other specialty sandwiches are Cluckin Ranch, Yankee Peddler, Cluckin Club, Sicilian Supreme, Healthy Bird, Egg Planter, No Way Jose, Miss Virginia, Buffalo Blu, All American, Tuscany, Mrs. I, Cajun Horse (roast beef with horse radish), Mama Rosa, Captain Tuna, Portobella Grove and Wild Turkey.
The deli also features submarine sandwiches and hot dishes, and coolers are filled with many types of ready-to-go wraps, fresh salads and side dishes such as macaroni salad and potato salad.
A portion of the store is devoted to convenience items such milk, eggs, potato chips, beer and soft drinks and there are many breakfast sandwich options to choose from as well.
“You’ve got to provide good quality to keep your business going,” Makhlouf said.
A native of Jordan, he moved to Warren County from Poughkeepsie where he previously owned a gas station.
Like many people, he was attracted to the North Country’s natural beauty and quality of life.
“I like the area, it’s nice and quiet,” he said. “We have a lot of customers from Lake George, Saratoga and Queensbury, all around here. Summer is our busiest time of year.”
The expansion is expected to be completed in April.
The store employs six people including Makhlouf.
Food items are available by delivery with Door Dash and Uber Eats.
Cameron’s Deli was founded in 1996 by two of Salmon’s friends, with an original location in Cross River, a town in Westchester County. It later expanded to a second location in Brewster, Putnam County.
Jaeger and Salmon opened the Queensbury store in June 2017, featuring around-the-clock service.
They decided to sell it shortly after downstate investors purchased the Cross River and Brewster stores.
Jaeger was co-founder of Jaeger & Flynn Associates, which was the region’s third largest health insurance agency, when he sold it to Marshall & Sterling in early 2021.