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Hundreds of would-be restaurateurs could almost visualize the coveted pickle recipe at Shenson's Delicatessen as they vied to win the 65-year-old San Francisco landmark.

But their hopes of landing in knish bliss were dashed when Shenson's owner, Alexandra Allen, called off the five-month contest just a couple of weeks before its Dec. 31 deadline when an impatient contestant came up with a purchase offer.

Allen refuses to reveal the identity of the buyer because the sale is still pending. However, she hinted Monday that the deli's future owner is a long-time customer and a member of the Jewish community.

While the turn of events may be shocking to some, Allen said she has been getting verbal offers ever since the contest started last July.

"I don't know how serious all of them are. One guy was doing a lot of research on delis. I've had other people come up to me and say, `If [the contest] doesn't go through, I know someone else who is real interested.'"

The widespread interest in the fate of San Francisco's oldest kosher-style deli is justified. There aren't many other options for Jewish customers who want to nosh a New York-style sandwich and do their holiday food shopping at the same stop.

David's Deli in the theater district and, in more recent years, Max's restaurants have offered local deliphiles a place to order a beefy Reuben and mouth-watering cakes, but those delicatessens do not sell wide varieties of pre-packaged and prepared specialty foods.

Local kosher butchers have filled that void by providing a variety of kosher and holiday foodstuffs, but they do not serve up matzah-ball soup or Middle Eastern salads for in-house dining.

While Allen says filling that niche for the Jewish community has been rewarding, her profits have faltered in recent years. The time was ripe for a change of pace. The market for restaurant sales, however, was less than promising. She decided to run her contest as a way to outmaneuver the long wait for a bid.

Those who entered the contest submitted a $100 entry fee, along with an original poem or essay about why they wanted the deli. The restaurateur and a panel of judges were to judge and interview the contest finalists this month before naming a winner.

Allen declined to say how many entries she received, but conceded that she didn't get the 1,500 needed to conclude the contest. Had she received that sum, she would have netted $150,000, which is roughly the appraised value of her business.

She says she already has returned all the entry fees.

Allen now turns her attention to price negotiations with the future owner. And that has been in between handling a deluge Chanukah business at the eatery. Nevertheless, the end is in sight.

"A couple weeks," she said hopefully.

After 10 years at the Richmond District deli, Allen plans to stay on for a few more weeks to show the ropes to its new proprietor.

"I'm hoping not to be here for Passover. That's a killer," she joked. "I don't need to die again."

After that, she's toying with the idea of doing some contract baking for Shenson's. She's also thinking of opening her own bakery.

However, the thought of committing to any idea is still a bit overwhelming, she said.

"I need time to get myself back to thinking through what I want to focus my energy on."

Allen has no regrets about her failed contest. She's had her fun, and her customers have had a chance to both beg her to stay and also speculate over Shenson's future. A traditional sale, she explained, would have been a sudden and silent affair that left everyone in shock.

"This way everyone knew and got nervous and worried" with me, she said.