Since opening for business less than a year ago, Hickory Kist Deli employees have offered meals that they say are "better than homemade, without the fuss."
The Hickory Kist Meat Snacks Gift & Deli, 1501 N. State, Spanish Fork, offers a full menu of hot soups, sandwiches and salads. All the entree items are made at the deli, most of them from scratch, except the white and wheat bread, which is made by the Oak Crest Inn."We have our own recipes for preparing our roast beef and smoked turkey, and we prepare them on-site," deli general manager John Gurley said. "And our cooks, Ted and Gloria McBride, have been in the business for more than 30 years."
Customers order their meals by filling out menu slips, and can customize their sandwiches, which are available in sizes from half or whole to the "mega-munch."
Lunch prices, for the various-sized sandwiches and soups, range from $2 to $5. The deli also offers daily specials on other items, including spaghetti and soup in a bread bowl, throughout the week. It also features desserts, including ice cream, frozen yogurt and freshly made pies and cakes. New additions to the menu include breakfasts and homemade cream-and-butter fudge.
"What we offer is a good meal in a good, clean environment and at a great price," Gurley said. "And no one goes away from here hungry."
Hickory Kist officials originally envisioned the deli as being more of a catering service and a gift shop, because employees from several nearby industries, including Nature's Sunshine and Longview Fibre, requested sandwich service. But somehow word got out that the deli was opening last December, and prospective customers began knocking on the doors while the site was being prepared.
"It was funny. We were supposed to be doing a trial run and people wanted to get in a week early," deli manager Janelle Coker said.
Now officials are pondering the opening of more sites throughout the state or possibly franchising them. On a typical day, the deli prepares hundreds of sandwiches, Gurley said.
"Some days we almost can't keep up with the lunch rush," he said. "We've just got to make sure we get here early to get everything made. Sometimes the lunch line goes out the front door."
In fact, the deli already has loyal customers, with people coming from all over the county to dine.
"I talked to a couple from Nephi last week," Coker said. "They come up every Saturday just to eat lunch here."
The deli is open Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information or to order meals by phone, call 798-9895.