Ten months ago, we reported that Italian deli Wise Guy, from the owner of Excelsior deli Calabria Bros., was set to open at 214 California St. (near Front Street) in the FiDi. But several months on, there's been no activity in the space.

Owner Michael Tufo declined to comment for this article. We contacted the Department of Public Health to ask about the holdup, and received this statement from Rachael Kagan, the agency’s director of communications:

I can confirm that the Health Department inspected the site on October 26, 2016, and found that there were several improvements required in order to be in compliance with the California Retail Food Code.

Those changes fell short of a remodel, but included items such as providing a commercial-grade tank water heater, a food prep sink, a designated area to store garbage and a self-closing device on the restroom door. This is not an uncommon number of findings.

The restaurant operator informed the Health Department that he would not pursue the project, so that is the last action that was taken.

The red, white and green awning remains, but for now, hungry FiDi folks who want a hearty sandwich will have to look elsewhere. We'll let you know if someone else moves into the space in Tufo's stead.