Four decades after buying the space, the Serfes family closed the doors of Jay's Deli on Boston Avenue on Sunday, Aug. 28.
The space was bought by the University, but its future use remains unclear.
Originally bought in July 1961 by Jay Serfes, the business was owned by Arthur and Perry Serfes, Jay's sons, before it was sold.
Tufts officially obtained ownership last Friday, Sept. 2.
According to Arthur, the business was doing well, but the brothers "are just getting tired of running the deli." The brothers are not sure what kind of business they will go into next, but, Arthur said, they are "happy to move on."
Many Tufts students went to Jay's during its four decades a few blocks from campus. Sophomore Johanna Boy said she dined at Jay's frequently while on campus for summer session classes and without a meal plan.
Senior Nathan Papazian, who started going to Jay's his sophomore year when he lived in Hill Hall, said, "It's a real nice place to sit down and have a sandwich, or just sit and chat for a few hours."
Papazian and his friends spent three hours in the deli on its final day. "We wanted to hold a candlelight vigil," he joked.
Papazian said Arthur and Perry were always friendly and learned the names of regular patrons. "It really wasn't the food, it was the atmosphere," he said. "It was there for 44 years, and I don't think Tufts can replace it. There's too much history."
