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October 16 - November 5, 2020
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Greater Wilmington Business Journal
wilmingtonbiz.com
RESTAURANT ROUNDUP
BUSINESS OF LIFE
This is a sampling of stories from the Business Journal’s weekly Restaurant Roundup email. Subscribe at wilmingtonbiz.com.
On Front Street, market sells produce and more Atiba Johnson and Khalil Morris, co-owners of the newly opened Front Street Market & Produce, 604 S. Front St., say they saw a need and are working hard to fulfill it. “In recent years there has been a push for more access to groceries in the downtown area,” Johnson said. Johnson, who has owned several local businesses and is involved with local nonprofit organizations, said it was important to him to provide easy access to fresh produce and grocery staples to downtown residents, many of whom rely on public transportation to shop for food. Johnson said the building had been vacant for some time and was in need of significant repairs, including a new HVAC system, when he and Morris took over the lease in February. The market carries fresh produce, milk, eggs, bread, cereal and other staples. Johnson said he and Morris are working with local farmers to carry seasonal produce, though they do supplement with produce from other vendors in order to have a wide enough variety on a regular basis. The market also carries beer, wine, juice and soda, and there is a bar at the front of the store.
This year’s Greek Festival becomes drive-thru only While many local festivals have been postponed or canceled in light of COVID-19, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church will hold its annual Wilmington Greek Festival the weekend of Oct. 23-25, modifying the event as a drive-thru-only festival. St. Nicholas was supposed to have celebrated its 28th annual Greek Festival in May, but decided to postpone given social distancing guidelines. But having a drive-thru component is not entirely new to the festival – about five years ago, festival chairman Basile Katsikis came up with the idea of implementing a drive-thru as an option for the elderly, the handicapped and those who simply wanted a quick, convenient meal. Katsikis also proposed that a drive-thru could be a saving grace should inclement weather arise.
Despite some initial reservations on the part of fellow organizers, Katsikis said the drive-thru has been a very successful component of the festival ever since. And now it has made it easy for organizers to implement a drive-thru-only model that will allow the festival to take place safely as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. All festival workers will be temperature-checked at the start of each shift, and everyone will be required to wear a hat or hair net, an apron, a mask and gloves. All food will be packed in individual Styrofoam to-go containers.
Burry Chocolates brings sweet treats to Hampstead About a month ago, Emily and Brandon Burry opened the doors of Burry Chocolates, a Hampstead-based chocolate shop specializing in handmade sweets crafted from family recipes. Brandon’s grandfather, Al Burry, started The Fudge Shoppe in Flemington, New Jersey, in 1961, and he grew up around the shop, working there with his grandfather on weekends throughout high school. “My grandparents lived above the shop so we were there all the time,” Brandon Burry said. The Fudge Shoppe has had a very loyal following over the past several decades and has been featured on The Food Network and in numerous publications, according to the Burrys. He would eventually join the Marine Corps, but always had in the back of his mind the idea to one day own a chocolate shop of his own. The Burrys credit the support of their family with their ability to open the shop. Brandon’s parents are co-owners and his aunts and uncles who still run The Fudge Shoppe have mentored them through the process of getting the business up and running. Many of the specialty chocolates they carry are currently made at The Fudge Shoppe. Many of the shop’s other sweets are made on-site, however, including chocolate-covered Oreos, espresso beans and graham crackers, ABC (almond butter crunch), toffee and fudge. They also hand-dip fresh fruit each morning, including blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries. Burry Chocolates is located at 21572 U.S. 17 N. in Hampstead. -Jessica Maurer
