Meet the Napolitanos and Mejias

Resident Feature by Stacey McEvoy | Photos by Christine Loy Photography and courtesy of the Napolitanos/ Mejias families

It’s the holiday season and Hickory Tree Deli in the Chatham Mall at 650 Shunpike Road is ready to take your order!

A staple in the Chatham Township community for 42 years, Hickory Tree Deli was started by Lou and Joann Napolitano in 1978 when they were 23 years old, a few months after they were married. Lou’s parents Ralph and Dolly were also there from the start to help open the business. It’s a known fact that Lou’s love for cooking and excellent execution came from his mother who was an amazing and admired chef. One of the couple’s daughters, Stephanie, and her husband John Mejia joined the family business 10 years ago after they celebrated their one-year wedding anniversary.

“Our store has always been a family-run place,” said Lou, noting that his sisters as well as Joann’s parents helped in the store for many years. The deli’s famous coleslaw recipe was created by Joann’s father, Nunzio “Sonny” Chiarolanzio, who came daily in the early years to help mix the delicious dressing. Growing up, Stephanie and her sister Lori worked in the store. Lori and her husband Chris live in Florham Park with their three children, Patrick, 10, Connor, 9 and Maggie, 4.

Stephanie and John live in Madison with their sons Michael and Mark and their 3-year-old yellow lab, Duke. Michael, 9, plays football, basketball and baseball. Mark, 7, plays football, soccer, basketball and baseball. The boys also can be found playing on the links with their dad and grandfather Lou—as both men love to play golf.

Lou and Joann both grew up in Madison, graduated from Madison High School in 1972 and began dating at 19. At the time, Lou was working at C&J’s Deli in Madison which was owned by Joann’s cousins, Carl and Joe Chiarolanzio. These days, Lou and Joann are kept pretty busy serving the community at the deli and attending the sports and activities of their five grandchildren. Lou also keeps busy cooking and making up his own recipes.

John and Stephanie met in middle school and dated while attending Madison High School and on and off through college. In 2004, Stephanie graduated from Lafayette College and John graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University. They married four years later. At the time, John worked in compliance at UBS, traveling a lot for business, and Stephanie had her own personal training business. In 2009, they both made career changes and joined the family business. It was perfect timing for the Napolitanos who happily welcomed them on board. Stephanie says that the best part of working with family is that they are all there for one another and can count on each other when needed. “We really do just make a good team together,” she says.

The deli offers an expansive menu of soups, quiches, chili, sandwiches and salads for breakfast and lunch as well as prepared fresh and frozen dinners for busy on-the-go families and holiday specialties such as Easter meat pies. They also offer a full catering menu for parties and corporate office functions that consist of hot dishes, sandwich platters, antipasto trays and pasta salads.

Looking to the future, John says, “Stephanie and I hope to continue to do the same in the many years to come.”

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