Want a piece of Ella’s Deli history? Memorabilia from restaurant to hit auction block

Live & online auction scheduled for July 26

MADISON, Wis. — If you drive down East Washington, you’ll notice a carousel still sits outside the shuttered Ella’s Deli, but this one isn’t the beloved 1920’s vintage Parker carousel that stood in Ella’s lot for more than 40 years.

That one is now in Verona, on Epic Systems’ sprawling campus, although Epic didn’t get everything. The company purchased Ella’s giant carousel earlier this month, but there’s still a lot of memorabilia leftover.

This Thursday, the remaining items at Ella’s will hit the auction block, including a smaller carousel that currently sits in the place the older one once stood.

Ella’s owners Ken and Judy Balkin bought the 1930’s or ’40’s ride 25 years ago as a second carousel, back when they had plans to expand.

Earlier this July, Epic bought 250 of the restaurant’s interior decor pieces, but there are still 75 others left, mainly smaller items, that weren’t part of the Epic purchase.

Those items include kitchen items like a Scotsman Flaker ice machine, a 1960’s old-fashioned custard machine, and a Delfield steaming table, as well as everything from the “Ella’s Deli” lettering on the front of the building to the restaurant’s garbage cans.

Wood booths, condiment holders, glass candy dishes, sundae glasses, and a washing machine will also be up for auction.

The auction will start at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 26, with an inspection starting at 9 a.m.

For a full list of the items up for auction, visit the Badger Corporation’s website.

Something you won’t find on that list: the restaurant’s memorable front balloon sign. Epic purchased that, with the carousel. A spokeswoman for the company said the carousel and decor will eventually be accessible to employees and visitors.

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