Coming Soon
Inspired by family traditions and the neighborhood delis Korina grew up with, Korina and Zak McClellan are bringing a familiar idea to Cass Avenue: fresh, convenient food for life's busiest days.
Korina and Zak McClellan's story begins in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, where both were born. Zak grew up just across the border in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, eventually pursuing hockey, which took him as far as Bozeman, Montana, before becoming a Michigan State Spartan. Korina later moved to the U.S. to attend law school in Lansing, building a successful 14-year legal career before pausing to follow a different passion—food.
Like so many families, they found themselves looking for quicker, more convenient, and healthier food options to enjoy on the go. They also noticed families visiting Frankenmuth on busy weekends, waiting for restaurant tables with hungry kids who simply needed a quick, satisfying bite to keep them going through the afternoon.
These experiences sparked an idea: to bring back the charm of the neighborhood deli with fresh, convenient options that make it easier for families and visitors to enjoy delicious food, even on their busiest days.
Korina's love for Italian delis was shaped early. Growing up in Sault, Ontario during a time of vibrant Italian immigration, she was surrounded by bakeries and neighborhood delis. Her next-door neighbor ran a small deli out of her garage, and Korina fondly remembers walking over for mortadella sandwiches—the smell of fresh bread, the excitement of that first bite.
Food was central to family life. Weekend lunches meant visiting local delis to gather fresh meats, cheeses, and bread, then bringing them home to build sandwiches around the table, sharing stories and laughter. Quality was everything—conversations often revolved around who had the best products, the freshest produce, or the perfect loaf of bread. Her grandparents' Sunday visits, often with seasonal fruits or vegetables in hand, remain some of her most cherished memories.
During her college years in Ottawa, Korina worked at her cousins' well-known Italian grocer, La Bottega. While she spent time at the cash, her mornings began much earlier—surrounded by the aroma of biscotti, focaccia, and baguettes baking fresh each day. She watched customers line up for sandwiches stacked high with premium ingredients. Her personal favorite: mortadella paired with their signature spicy eggplant.
That deep-rooted nostalgia for the Italian deli never left her.
So when the opportunity arose on Cass Avenue, they took the leap—returning to their roots and bringing the deli dream full circle.