Our Story

The Beginning — Rohrbach an der Teich

The story begins in the small village of Rohrbach an der Teich, near Vienna, Austria, where Ignatz Salamon — grandfather of the present owner — ran a small general store.

Ignatz was born in Poland and moved to Austria in the 1920s. Following the German annexation of Austria in the Anschluss in March 1938, he came to the UK as a refugee with his wife and three young children. Walter Salamon, who would later become the founder of Wally's Delicatessen, was just 3 years old at that time.

The Salamon family store in Rohrbach, Austria

A New Life in South Wales

Ignatz joined the Pioneer Corps of the British Army, largely made up of Austrian and German refugees. Following the war, he moved his family to South Wales, taking a job in a zip factory where his brother was working, accumulating capital and improving his English.

Then, in 1949, he opened a store in Bridge Street in Cardiff — on the very site where John Lewis now stands. Drawing on his experience running a general store in Austria, Ignatz responded to the needs of the newly arrived immigrant community from Eastern Europe. The shop soon specialised in Polish cooked meats and pickles, Hungarian salamis, German hams and sausages, and European-style breads.

The shop rapidly established a reputation for its European products — many obtained from London-based importers and never before seen in this part of the country. It became a constant hub of activity and a meeting place where customers conversed in a variety of languages.

The Continental Delicatessen

After a few years, Walter (Wally) and his brother Otto joined their father in the family business — both teenagers who had left school with no formal qualifications. They worked alongside Ignatz until his death in 1963.

Current owner Steven Salamon recalls: "After my father and his brother took over the business from their father in 1963, they had the words 'Continental Delicatessen' painted on the shop front in letters that started small and got bigger and bigger. It looked fantastic. In those days, nothing they were selling was available in supermarkets. Panettone was imported from Italy and Stollen from Germany long before anyone here knew what they were!"

As the South Wales continental community grew, so did the range — Italian and Spanish cheeses, French charcuterie, Greek olives, olive oils, and much more. In the 1970s, the healthy eating craze brought demand for muesli and high-fibre cereals. The brothers developed their own recipes with local suppliers — many of which are still sold today.

The Bridge Street shop, 1970s

Wally's Delicatessen — Royal Arcade

In 1981, the Bridge Street shop was compulsorily purchased when Cardiff City Council redeveloped the area. In its place came Toys-R-Us, the National Ice Rink, and a multi-storey car park.

The brothers went their separate ways. Wally chose to open a delicatessen in the Royal Arcade, naming it Wally's Delicatessen — because he believed it an old-fashioned virtue that shopkeepers should name their shop after themselves. His brother later opened a café in the same arcade.

The core business continued with health foods and continental meats, now with more Italian and Spanish varieties alongside the German and Eastern European cuts, and a new emphasis on oriental foods and spices.

Walter (Wally) Salamon, 1936–2008

Walter (Wally) Salamon — 1936–2008

Growing the Dream — 2009 & Beyond

In June 2009, a new extension to the store was opened following the acquisition of adjoining premises. The extra floor space more than doubled the sales area, fitted out to the highest standards — a modern version of the original Wally's, whilst maintaining its special charm and character.

The expansion brought an enlarged delicatessen counter, a wines and beers department, Italian gelati, loose-leaf teas and coffees, store-baked artisan breads, and much more.

A view from outside the shop, December 2018

Wally's Kaffeehaus — The Viennese Tradition

In 2011, Wally's Kaffeehaus opened on the first floor of the Royal Arcade premises, directly above the delicatessen. The aim: to bring the Viennese Coffee House tradition right into the heart of Cardiff.

The Kaffeehaus offers a unique menu of continental breakfasts, open sandwiches, cakes and patisseries, Italian gelato, and an exciting range of coffees, teas, hot chocolates, and alcoholic beverages — along with daily newspapers and free WiFi.

Our Kaffeehaus