Couple behind Lou & Ann's Deli in Cherry Hill want to retire, but are hoping deli continues to thrive.

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Louis Napolitano, co-owner of the Lou & Ann's Deli that bears his parents' names, said huge changes have occurred around their store on Route 70 since his mother and father first opened the establishment in 1959.

"Remember where Olga's Diner used to be?" he asked, referring to the distance to the former Marlton Circle just over four miles east on Route 70 from the gourmet deli. "There were maybe 50 houses (between there and here). This side of town was not completely built up yet. There were apple orchards and farms instead."

Now, Louis and his wife, Sue Ann Napolitano, say they are ready for a big change of their own: retirement.

About 12 years ago Louis's mother bequeathed the deli to Louis and his brother Michael Napolitano in her will. Their father died in 1998.

"I am going to be 72 in December," Louis said, adding he has worked at the gourmet deli for roughly 60 years. "I want to get out before something happens to me that is not in my control."  

Two months ago, Louis said he contacted a Realtor.

"I want to sell the whole package," Louis recalled from the conversation with Long & Foster Real Estate.

In other words, he wants someone to buy the entire building — the gourmet deli sits between a surf shop and a florist — and his house, which is the first one on the right when turning onto Brookmead Drive from Route 70 East.

Packaged together like the ingredients in one of the hoagies the deli sells. On July 24, the package had a list price of $1.65 million. Louis acknowledged that his wishes made a quick sale unlikely.

"Everybody wants the land here. This is the middle of Cherry Hill and this is a prime corner lot. But they want it for other reasons," Louis said. "I have thrown my heart behind selling this as a turnkey business."

Read our "Fixtures" feature from a year ago

Since 1959, Route 70 traffic whizzed by Lou and Ann's Deli in Cherry Hill.

"A young person with a lot of knowledge could do well here. I hope I do not have to cross the bridge of selling the land and walk away from keeping it a gourmet deli." He said he would also be willing to sell to someone who wants to turn it into something similar, such as a pizza parlor.

"I am very proud of this place," Louis said, noting he bought his brother's share of the business many years ago.

Louis and Sue Ann said they are so proud of the place that they had hoped one of their two children — a son in northeastern Pennsylvania and a daughter in northern Delaware — would take over the business.

"People who have businesses like this often have generations underneath them like his parents did," Sue Ann said, looking around the kitchen and then at Louis as he prepared some Jersey Tomato Salad. "But we do not have that."

When Louis was asked how long he would wait before relenting to sell to someone who had other ideas for the property, he reluctantly said maybe December.

He added that with so much of the old Cherry Hill set to be demolished — such as plans to replace the Cherry Hill Diner with a car wash — that he really hopes someone will go for the package deal.

"The name of this business is likely worth something," Louis said.

The name Lou & Ann's Deli is a strong brand. Online food sites carry reviews such as "…sandwiches and macaroni salad were absolutely fantastic" and "Best, most consistent sandwiches around…" Lou and Sue said they appreciate those reviews, positive social media posts and taste-tempting tweets.

However, the Napolitanos acknowledged such feedback also made them victims of their own success. Lou and Sue said the food is prepared with equipment barely larger than in some residential kitchens and that most times, it is just the two of them working there. That, in turn, makes the work week much longer than the 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays indicated on the front door.

"I was here last night until seven (and) I already have five hours in," Louis said during the interview that began at 9 a.m. "I do not officially open for another hour."

Throughout the interview, the Napolitanos said they were not complaining, just explaining some of their decisions.

When the property does sell, the Napolitanos said they will likely relocate farther south in New Jersey, perhaps to a place where the state's nickname of "The Garden State" still seems applicable.

Sue Ann told 70and73.com that she would likely look for a part-time job that allows her to use the medical assistant skills she stopped using about a decade ago to help Louis, while Louis said he would likely look for a part-time job in the food industry.

"It's the only thing I know," he said.