Who are mo and Piggy?
Mo and Piggy before their first trip to Alaska from Culver City, California 1963
The inspiration of Mo’s Deli comes from the owner, Jason's grandparents, Morris and Mildred Ellis. Morris was known as Mo, and his pet name for Mildred was Piggy.
They were married for more than 67 years and lived in Brooklyn, New York, Culver City, California and Anchorage, Alaska. All his life, Mo was complimented on the fact that he never met a stranger. This was partially due to his career as a mailman. Whether it was a child or an adult, conversations would flow easily with Mo. Everyone and anyone could talk to Mo. Piggy was the typical Jewish grandmother: doting, caring, and always said what was on her mind, no matter how it affected other people.
Who are the owners?
Owners Jason and Betty
Mo’s Deli is owned by husband and wife, Jason Ellis and Betty A. Sheldon. Jason was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska and has over 35 years of experience in the food service industry in Alaska (specifically Anchorage) and California. From 1994 to 2004, Jason owned and operated Mayflower Catering Inc. He has also worked for Hilton Hotels, Marriott Corporate Feeding, Host Marriott, and managed remote North Slope Camps for Nordic Calista Services and NANA Management Services.
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Betty is a NANA employee and NANA shareholder from Noorvik, Alaska. Jason and Betty met several years ago and got married in Las Vegas by Elvis Presley who pronounced them to be “Hound Dog and Hound Dog”.
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Jason remembers the best part of visiting relatives in New York, where his father and grandfather grew up, were the delicatessens they ate at. The great food and atmosphere of these delis have stuck with him and is now providing an authentic deli style restaurant with high quality deli products and service to his community in Anchorage, Alaska. The meats used by Mo’s Deli are sourced from Sy Ginsberg United Meat and Deli.