Dearborn’s New ‘Deli On The Avenue’ Opens
Deli On The Avenue is located on Military, just north of Michigan Avenue.
Vicki Barndollar says she has been in the food business for about 25 years. But it wasn’t until this year that the 1978 Fordson High School graduate decided to do what many people often talk about but never make the leap to do: open up their own business.
The Dearborn native and resident has done just that with her new Deli On The Avenue, a small but quaint deli shop at 949 Military, just south of Michigan Avenue across from Sacred Heart Church.
“I just wanted a business of my own,” Barndollar says. “I have been in the food business for about 25 years. Instead of working for someone else I decided it was time to open my own business.”
Deli On The Avenue serves up fresh sandwiches, soups and salads, daily. For just $5, patrons can get a nice sandwich, pickle spear and chips. Barndollar says that combo has been the house favorite in the three weeks she has been open. In addition to sandwiches, the deli also offers up muffins, cookies and fruit bowls.
Deli owner Vicki Barndollar, left, and her niece, Heather VanOast, serve up fresh sandwiches daily.
Barndollar previously managed a Moe’s Southwest Grill, helping open one of the chain’s restaurants in Southgate. Moe’s corporate offices put Barndollar through six weeks of training in Atlanta prior to having her manage their store. Prior to Moe’s she managed a hotel down south and spent nine years at the Senate Coney on Greenfield and Rotunda.
Deli On The Avenue does have a small number of free parking spaces at the rear of the building. The spaces are shared with the beauty salon, which is located at the rear of the deli. To access the parking lot, patrons need to use the driveway off Garrison, just east of Military. The city’s paid lot also offers the first 30 minutes free so those just wanting to drop in and order a sandwich can quickly do that, too.
There is outdoor seating alongside the Deli that Barndollar plans to use this spring. She said she wanted to put some seating directly outside of her store on Military but she said city officials, apparently from Building and Safety, told her that wasn’t allowed.
The same Building and Safety official she was dealing with also told her she couldn’t advertise the name of her business – Deli On The Avenue – on the awning over her store, despite the fact that other businesses around town already have names on their awnings. Finally, she was told that putting up a sandwich board to advertise her daily specials to motorists on Military also was off limits.
“They (Building and Safety) were harder to deal with than the Health Department,” Barndollar said.
These actions hardly seem welcoming for a small business owner trying to get started in Dearborn nor does it encourage others to locate in our city if this really is standard operating procedure. We fully understand there has to be rules in a downtown but Barndollar’s requests seem very reasonable and actually could improve the look of the area, particularly the outdoor seating.
Despite her start-up hurdles, Barndollar, to her credit, is very upbeat about finally having her own store in the city she was born and raised. “It is all about keeping it in your own town,” Barndollar says. We agree and wish Barndollar the best of luck with her new Deli On The Avenue.
Winter store hours for the Deli On The Avenue are: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday – Friday. Beginning in January, the Deli may stay open until 5 p.m. and be open on Saturdays, depending on traffic. For more information, call the Deli at: 313-274-4599.
December 28th, 2009 at 2:55 am
best of luck!
December 28th, 2009 at 7:32 am
I wish Vicki the best in her new adventure in the city. Amazing what she has to go thru to open up a business in a city that should be out begging people to open up here. She can’t put her name on an awning? As for the sandwich board on Military, the council approves those signs all the time. In fact, they approve them after they have been up at some businesses for weeks.
I am looking forward to trying one of her sandwiches this week!
December 28th, 2009 at 8:48 am
Good sandwiches and nice service. Too bad what the city of Dearborn put you through. and people want to know why more businesses don’t come here or why they don’t open sooner? reading this, it appears the city just works to make it harder.
December 28th, 2009 at 9:08 am
My Guess is if Ms. Barndollar greased the right palms, she could have done whatever she wanted without interference. Is anyone else tired of this crap? As for the sandwich board signs, I like Donna see plenty of them, and while you are supposed to have police and council approval and pay a fee for same, I am willing to bet that many of the businesses that have them out are not compliant. Finally, WTF about the awning with the name of the business–did they just make that one up to hassle her? Hey Donna, shall we go up and down Michigan avenue, Monroe, Telegraph, and other places today and count how many businesses have done this?
Ms. Barndollar, congratulations to you and I wish you all the luck in the world! I hope you expand your hours to Saturday, too, so those of us who work during the week can enjoy your place, too. Also, might not be a bad idea to get the church folks’ business, either.
December 28th, 2009 at 10:36 am
i’m sure with the proper permits- signage is allowed—– double check w the city
December 28th, 2009 at 11:03 am
Dearbornette – I am sure we could find a bunch of violations on Michigan Ave. alone. What harm can an awning do, much better than all the ‘paper signs’ in the windows up and down MI Ave. that look like crap.
December 28th, 2009 at 11:46 am
The instructions you received from Dearbornette were right on, you should have offered the inspector from the City, a free meal, and then slipped him a token gift (that’s the Bldg. and Safety way of doing business). Anyway wish you all the luck, because now people will be able to fratenize, a nice little deli, at a reasonable price. By the way the Big fella lives down the street, you might want a ribbon cutting from, just get ready to feed his face.
December 28th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
Good luck on your new venture. I know from experience that signage awnings are permitted. The secret to being successful in this City is just doing what you want without the City’s permission. If it’s good enough for Fakhoury, it’s good enough for the rest of us.
I recommend that you go before the City Council and ask why you can’t have an awning. This way you will also get publicized, free publicity. It wouldn’t hurt and could only help.
We’ll be stopping in soon to enjoy a meal. Good luck again.
December 28th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
I’m looking forward to trying it.
December 28th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
Thanks to everyone for your support. And yes I do agree that in order to make my adventure a successful one, I will have to advertise on my terms and not the city’s. As one reader has recommended a ribbon cutting, well I have called the Mayor’s office 2 times now, and I have been told that they are very busy with Grand Openings that I will have to wait to be contacted. Could someone please tell me where all of these new business are opening, that there is now a waiting list for a Ribbon Cutting…..the last time I looked their are more vacant buildings in this city than ever before.
December 28th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Deli Owner – Unbelieveable is the only word I can think of. There is a waiting list for Ribbon Cuttings – now I have heard everything. Hate to tell you what I would tell them if I had to wait to be contacted. What fools.
December 29th, 2009 at 12:32 am
Do they now do a ribbon cutting everytime the city buys a vacant house?
December 29th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Just had a carry-out from the Deli – I had chicken salad sandwich (lots of chicken salad) and Italian Wedding soup both were excellent. Its a cute place and very customer friendly, I would highly recommend it.
December 29th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Donna, I just went there to get some lunch, and the sign said they’re closed until Jan 2. How did you get food? And why are they closed until January 2?
December 29th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Deli Owner – appear in person at a Council meeting and state your case. I can’t believe that the Council would not respond. The City should do everything possible to make sure your business survives.
December 29th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
Steve,
I apologize for missing you when you had arrived at the Deli. I had found in the past few days with it being the Holiday season and just opening my doors, this week may not be a good time to expect a good flow of business. I had then decided instead of getting discouraged, I would take these next few days to get the word out and start advertising by passing out flyers instead of awaiting the city’s ribbon cutting. I hope that you will return to the Deli anytime after Jan 2nd, and try one of our delicious sandwiches. We look forward to seeing you!!