Pulaski, Chamber of Commerce Directory 2022 | Page 55

Downtown Deli meant to be for Dobbs

BY JANIE SLAVEN
Jami Dobbs opened Downtown Deli & Catering almost by accident .
Dobbs started catering when she worked at the former Old Town Deli in Downtown Somerset . As that restaurant was closing , Dobbs — who also had plenty of experience cooking for her large family — agreed to cater a wedding on her own that Old Town wasn ' t able to complete .
" I got two or three clients from that ," Dobbs said , adding that when she wasn ' t working from home , she ' d borrow the venue ' s kitchen facilities .
From there , Dobbs began taking little jobs for people she knew but as her reputation grew , so did the jobs . After a few years of working out of her home , Dobbs was looking for a place to expand . She ' d find it on the west side of Fountain Square .
" It was a God thing ," Dobbs said of finding the location . " Everything was put in place for me to do this . It just came together like it was meant to be ."
The owners of the historic building asked Dobbs if she would be interested in opening a restaurant . Though that hadn ' t been her original plan , her family convinced her to take the plunge and Downtown Deli was born .
" We ' ve always been a lunch place ," Dobbs said , " because I like to do catering . So after hours , nights and weekends are for catering ."
The sit-down , carryout , and catering restaurant opened its doors in Downtown Somerset in
Jami Dobbs and her staff at Downtown Deli offer the best in comfort food favorites and catering services . Pictured from left are Hollie Thomas , Darrick Jones , Tooter Phelps , Dobbs and Jennifer Salmons .
Photo by Janie Slaven
Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce www . somersetpulaskichamber . com 53