local flavor
Doug’s Deli
A Newcomer to Historic Downtown Manassas By Amy Falkofske
H
aven’t ventured into Downtown Manassas lately? Then you might not yet have experienced its newest restaurant, Doug’s Deli, an independent, quick-service deli right on Main Street. The restaurant opened officially on April 8 of this year with a ribbon-cutting and the mayor in attendance.
How It Started Doug’s Deli was started by Owner/Operator John Windley. Windley has worked in the restaurant industry for 10 years and had been thinking about owning his own business. The pandemic gave him the opportunity to make his dream a reality. “When the pandemic shut down most restaurant operations, it seemed like an opportunity for me to spend that time building a place I could open when the pandemic was over. But I really didn’t expect it to take this long!” he said. Windley previously managed Brixx in Woodbridge and Ornery Beer Company in Fairfax. He also worked at Zandra’s Historic Downtown Manassas location before it closed for renovations after the pandemic hit.
Coming Home For Windley, Historic Downtown Manassas was the obvious choice for Doug’s Deli. Manassas is where he grew up. “When thinking of starting my own small business, I knew the community support that existed here in Manassas would be a key element to my success. There was never any other location to consider; I wanted to be part of this community,” he said.
Fresh-Made Menu Items One of the most popular menu items is the Reuben specialty sandwich, a 1/2 lb. of corned beef piled high with sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and house-made Russian dressing served on grilled marbled rye. Left to right, Ellen Windley, John Windley, Amanda Windley, Christina Windley, John Windley, Senior.
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July 2021 prince william living
Another popular item is the chicken salad sandwich. The Doug’s Deli version is savory instead of sweet, with roasted chicken,
