In this final part of a three-part series, Erica Johns introduces readers to Aaron Mengel, the new owner of Generous Joe’s.
Aaron Mengel began his love of cooking as a child living in Baltimore. He would often accompany his mother to her restaurant job when she couldn’t afford babysitters. Spending so much time in restaurants as a child helped develop his passion for cooking.
Mengel moved to Greenbelt as a teenager, when family trouble led him to be taken in by extended family living in Greenbelt. He said he found a close-knit community and kind people who were always willing to help each other.
“I sat with Golden here; we talked baseball and boxing. He always remembered who you were,” said Mengel. “From
growing up in Baltimore not having a place like this, to come in as a kid, hang out with friends, have some food, everyone knows your name, asks how your family is doing. It’s always been about the community, which I really took to heart moving to Greenbelt. I was accepted here, by the employees and my friends, for who I was, just an amazing thing.”
As an adult, Mengel continued living in Greenbelt and began working in food service, progressing to chef and manager at Martin’s Crosswinds, behind Greenway Center. In February 2017 he asked Joe Jr. for a job and he started the next day. He told Joe he would be interested in taking on the restaurant when he was ready to retire. By Labor Day that year, Joe asked him to manage the restaurant, which enabled Joe to focus on the business paperwork and regain some personal time. Mengel described Joe Jr. as a father figure.
“Greenbelt is my home,” he said. “I walk to work, I see my customers and my neighbors and we stop to talk. I want to keep that alive, especially with newer people coming to Greenbelt. You want to make sure this is something that can last as long as we possibly can. It’s influenced my life, so I can only imagine what it will do for future generations.”
Mengel’s goal was to own a restaurant by age 30. Earlier this year, Joe asked Mengel if he was ready and passed the torch to him in June 2023. Mengel had just turned 31.
“Aaron is a natural fit,” said Joe. “He’s more or less a Greenbelt boy. He’s got a lot of experience, he’s a hard worker and knows how to cook. I have no doubt he can handle it and it’s a good transition. I’m glad he wanted to do it.”
Carrying Tradition
The deli’s menu reflects creativity and family. Mengel said, “Joe gave me a lot of artistic control. As long as he liked the food he was eating, he knew the customers would.” The crabcake sandwich is a recipe Mengel created when working at a Baltimore crab shack with his mother. “That’s a recipe I came up with when I was 13,” he said. “To this day I use it here and with family.” The Italian dressing is Mrs. Natoli’s recipe. Mengel introduced a Greek salad at Joe’s when DC Vegan took over the New Deal Café kitchen and found the previous staff’s feta cheese and offered it to Joe’s. Mengel added kalamata olives and red onions for a traditional Greek salad which customers love.
Mengel said Joe’s 11-person crew has a passion for cooking and customer service. “Some workers just need a little extra money while going to college and we fit them in as best we can. But no matter who they are and how much they work they’re all treated as family.”
When asked what will change and what will stay the same, Mengel said, “We’re ready to add things to the menu, but we will always be Generous Joe’s, keeping Joe’s dream alive and being there for the community.” And the painting of Golden will continue to hang above the booths, keeping an eye on things.
Community Support
Many small businesses across the country closed during Covid-19, especially restaurants. Mengel said, “If it wasn’t for the community supporting us through that hard time, we wouldn’t be here. That is why it’s so important we are part of the community and the community is part of us.”
Brian Sutherland has worked at Joe’s for 25 years, since Joe Jr. hired him on the spot in 1998 when Famished Fannie’s closed and he was out of a job. He said retirement will be healthy for Joe and he views the transition as a good thing.
Jeff Demas, Metro bus mechanic and Joe’s delivery driver, said: “I grew up with Aaron, he’s been my brother for the past 13, 14 years. He’s a great person, very customer service-oriented and very generous, and that follows suit with [Joe’s] for the last 60 years. I’ve been working here since 2010. I have nothing but the utmost respect for Joe, his family and Aaron. [I told Aaron] I’d help him further his dream. It’s a great thing, to keep it in the community.”
Wendy Cooler and son Ob Cooler-Stith were at Joe’s for lunch. She said, “I’m thrilled Aaron is taking over Generous Joe’s. I feel like this is one of the beautiful love stories of Greenbelt, this relationship with Joe and Aaron. I love the way Aaron has grown … the food offerings, and the way the space feels. I’m just glad to see this institution continue, under Aaron’s leadership. Both my kids have grown up coming to Joe’s. Being able to come here and hang out with your friends is a teenage rite of passage in Greenbelt, and I’m really glad as a parent, that my kids have had this space to be with their friends and have some autonomy in the neighborhood. I always feel that they’re safe and well taken care of when they come here.”
Mengel concluded with gratitude. “The family and friends I’ve made in Greenbelt helped me become the man I am today, so as much as Greenbelt has done for me, I’ve got to give back to the community. If it weren’t for Joe trusting me with his family’s dream, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve my own, to be there for more people and help more people. It’s amazing I have this in my life, and I wouldn’t have it any other way, to be able to carry on that atmosphere of love and respect.”