New client website goes live: NorthStarDeli.com

Filed by: Darren on May 18, 2007 at 8:54
Filed In: Work

I'm delighted to announce that my latest client commission site went live yesterday: www.northstardeli.com.

Bit of a departure from my usual line of work, you might think? But actually, there's a very definite genre connection lurking not so far beneath the surface, because the North Star Deli is owned and run by a family partnership that includes a certain Mr John Berlyne, proprietor of The Works of Tim Powers (which, I might add, is due for a renewal and transfer to a Wordpress platform in the very near future...) and UK reviews editor for venerable online genre 'zine SFRevu.com.

The deli itself is located in the South Manchester suburb of Chorlton; Jo and I drove on down there one Sunday a while ago and enjoyed some damn fine coffee and theoretical polenta cake (theoretically, John promised us polenta cake, but actually they sold out on the Saturday... a common occurrence, the polenta cake is very popular...) whilst we talked to John about books, writing, food, drink, and the current state of the world... as you do.

Fast-forward a couple of months to John and I having a very enthusiastic conversation over cartons of spicy far-eastern food in Manchester city centre one lunchtime, whilst discussing the enormous potential for developing the North Star Deli website into something far, far more interesting than just the usual online brochure-dump.

I spoke at great length about the concept of blogging as a means of developing an ongoing conversation: a very direct and immediate link between the Deli and its customers. John saw the potential immediately, and in turn introduced the concept to his partners, brother Adam and sister Deanna.

Thus, www.northstardeli.com is now reborn, on a Wordpress platform, with regularly-updated content and all the character, enthusiasm and foodie-knowledge you'd get from speaking to any of the deli team in-store. I think I'm right in saying that the North Star is Manchester's first blogging-deli, but I suspect it won't be the last, once word gets around...

It's the content that will be a winner though. It's early days yet, but I've already learned much - maybe too much (bacon-mints, anyone?) and speaking as an avowed foodie myself, I'm looking forward to future posts (particularly Deanna's recipes) with relish...

Check it out. Join the mailing list (e-bulletins should start going out in a couple of weeks, and you might learn something from those as well). Leave a comment or three. And if you live anywhere near Chorlton, get yourself down there and stock up on fine food and beverages from around the world, as well as plenty of fresh local produce. Sample the coffee. Enjoy the polenta cake (if you're quick...)

I just wish they'd open a branch in North Manchester (preferably Prestwich... in fact, just around the corner from me would be ideal...)

I reckon if they did that and then set up WiFi access in there as well, you'd never get me out of the place... :)

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4 Responses to 'New client website goes live: NorthStarDeli.com'

Robert Wexler on May 18th, 2007 6:46 pm

Hey Ariel,

Site looks great!

Robert
Ariel on May 20th, 2007 7:31 pm

Cheers Robert. Adapted from a template, I'll happily admit...
Robert Wexler on May 22nd, 2007 3:00 pm

Well that's what templates are for. No reason to invent everything new every time.
Ed on May 24th, 2007 8:47 pm

Welll, if I'm ever in Manchester the North Star Deli treats are on you.