Austin Restaurateur Marc Katz Prepares to Make History; Katz's Deli to Debut 24-Hour Online Ordering - www.katzneverkloses.com - and Yellow Cab Delivery Service

Business Wire, June 23, 1999

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 23, 1999--

Marc Katz, perhaps Austin's most colorful and best-known entrepreneur, restaurateur and philanthropist, has done it again. At least he's about to.

The man who brought real New York kosher-style deli food to Texas and whose trademark soundbite -- "I can't help it, I gotta tell ya: Katz's Never Kloses" -- has endeared him to thousands is taking his restaurant, a fixture on Sixth Street for 20 years now, into the new millennium (his fourth decade in business).

Starting in mid-July, the classic sandwiches, burgers, soups and salads, pastas and frittatas, appetizers, desserts and assorted blintzes and bagels that have enticed Austin diners to return again and again for breakfasts, dinners and after-hour repasts will all be available for 24-hour online ordering and delivery by that most ubiquitous of New York symbols, the Yellow Cab. In fact, Katz's has forged a great union with American Yellow Checker Cab Co., as evidenced by the cab stand out front.

With just a few clicks of the mouse, a hungry local working overtime or a busy-body with no time to cook can order one of Katz's trademark Reubens, a side of jalapeno cream cheese bites with raspberry sauce and a slice of Caramel Fudge Cheesecake, and in a matter of minutes (20 to 40 depending on where they are), be chowing down.

The delivery zone will stretch from south of downtown (near the new airport) westward to Rollingwood, northward to the Pond Springs-Jollyville area and northeastward almost to Pflugerville. That's a lot of happy people eating a lot of fresh, hot deli delights.

But there won't be just food on the menu at the Katz's Deli Web site. The whole catalog of specialty items -- the Katz's Deli and Top of the Marc T-shirts, boxer shorts, caps, mugs and pens that Katz's offers with lifetime guarantees -- will be available along with CDs from Katz's Bagel Label. A calendar of shows at Top of the Marc (the popular nightclub atop Katz's that features the best in eclectic music by artists from Austin and across the country), with links to feature bands, will be updated frequently.

Never has such epicurean e-commerce been done on a 24-hour basis.

On Thursday, July 15, Katz will host a press conference to launch the Katz's Deli Web site (www.katzneverkloses.com) gastronomic cyberspace with such Katzian fanfare as Sixth Street has never seen.

Picture this: Katz steps from a city bus wrapped with the deli logo, Web site address and trademark Reuben sandwich and enters the restaurant as a fleet of Yellow Cabs circles the block, perhaps trying the patience of motorists but definitely getting their attention in typical Katz fashion.

And who will have the privilege of punching in the first online order? Will it be Austin Mayor Kirk Watson? Or another big fan, local singing star Marcia Ball?

Watson says, "All of us here in Austin know that 'Katz's Never Kloses.' But what many may not know is that Marc Katz never quits giving. His restaurant is more than a New York-style deli. Both Mr. Katz and his restaurant represent an Austin-style commitment to community service. They have both been with us for three decades and I cannot imagine Austin without them."

He is referring to the tens of thousands of dollars Katz has raised with benefits for a long list of recipients that includes Texas Hearing & Service Dogs, Hospice Austin, KUT Public Radio, the Pediatric AIDS League, Austin Teenage Parent Council, the Zachary Scott Theatre Center and Communities in Schools.

Katz, who sold Fords on Sixth Street before buying the Rio Grande corner location, has been quoted as saying, "My intuition tells me I keep what I have by giving it away." He's been sharing -- his sense of humor, his fund-raising abilities and his hospitality know-how -- for 20 years. Now he's going to share his great food with even more lucky Austinites.

                           KATZ'S DELI & BAR
                    ONLINE ORDER & DELIVERY SERVICE
                              FACT SHEET

Launch of www.katzneverkloses.com: July 15, 1999

Katz's Deli & Bar: Rio Grande and Sixth Street, Austin

Hours for online order and delivery: 24 hours, 7 days a week

Maximum delivery time: 20 to 40 minutes

Delivery Zone: from south of downtown to Rollingwood to the Jollyville
               area to near Pflugerville

What's available: Everything on the Katz's menu
                  All specialty items
                  CDs on the Bagel Label

What's also available: Top of the Marc show calendar
                       (featuring audio clips, band links)

Why: Because "Katz's Never Kloses"