Glenn Wooten dreamed for years about turning the abandoned post office into a fun dining spot. He finally built a model, pitched the idea to the land owners and opened his food stop last week.
For years, Glenn Wooten would drive by a small empty structure in Prices Corner en route to his catering business off of Kirkwood Highway thinking to himself that the “cute little” former post office and photo mat would be an ideal retail venue for his food.
Inspired by a vision for walk-up window service in the trailer-sized building, Wooten set about investigating the long-vacant property’s availability, even developing a scaled model of what would become what must be one of the first new drive-in restaurants to open in Delaware since the 1950s.
Today, Wooten, the owner of Appleton Catering, is celebrating the opening of Savannah’s – named for his granddaughter – an adorable, cheerful sandwich shop draped in the vivid colors of ketchup and mustard.
Adneris Torres will take your order and Bobby Smith will cook your meal at Savannah’s
Appleton Catering is a quarter mile down the road. “For 10 years I’ve been driving past this, and I looked at it like ‘this needs to be something.’ It’s a great little location, and I wondered why it was so empty for so long.”
The post office closed in 1996, and even the shopping center property owners didn’t know there was a little structure in the middle of a parking lot behind Prices Corner (near FirestSavannah’s that was available to lease. But Wooten convinced the owners that indeed there was an abandoned structure that that had the promise of something more. “I made them an offer, and here I am!”
Wooten applied a few coats of paint, had a large sign made, designed a ½ barn door where customers place their orders, and strung lights all around the place. “At night this place lights up like a Christmas tree — it’s unbelievable.”
The food stop is open from 11 am to dusk Monday through Saturday.
Smith readies for customers in the kitchen area of the establishment
Wooten parked a new trailer behind the façade, where food warmers and other new food equipment crank out the chili dogs and pulled pork sandwiches. Because it’s not a full kitchen, the slow-cooked pork, coleslaw, sauerkraut and baked beans are made in-house at the catering operation down the street. Even the brownies and cookies are homemade. The walk-up eatery also offers other salty snacks and loads of drinks that they keep cold in coolers.
“We don’t have a full hood and ansul system, and we don’t have fryers up. So no French fries. But we make our own chili, our own bar-be-cue and all of our own toppings. It’s simple –hot dogs and bar-be-cue and lots of good stuff to go with them.”
Cook Robby Smith made up a bar-be-cue sandwich with Coleslaw on a large, fresh and soft hoagie roll for TSD. The sandwich was delicious, the sauce incredibly tasty. We needed a few more napkins since we weren’t eating at a table. But we will definitely grab lunch there again if we’re in the area.
Savannah’s is located on Newport Gap Pike off of Kirkwood Highway, behind Habitat for Humanity Restore, McDonald’s and the Prices Corner Shopping Center. Just look for the ketchup red and mustard yellow.
I applaud Glenn Wooten for taking a chance and pursuing his dream at that location – way to go! I will definitely check it out now that weather getting better…. thanks TownSquare for promoting it – I would not have driven back there otherwise.
Now those working at the shopping center and surrounding businesses can have another place to choose for lunch. Hey get some fries soon..
Good for you Glenn Wooten ! Can’t wait to check ya out.
Awesome, good luck in your new venture!
Will definitely check it out! 🙂 do you serve drinks or milkshakes?
Fyi I remember using that venue when it was a portable post office. Vending machines for stamps etc. Just as an fyi, the photomat was located on the other side of the shopping ctr, by what is now staples or back then kiddeworld pools, it got demo ed when a car ran into it. Good luck on your venture
Good luck Glenn on hour new endeavor with the hot dog/bb-cue stand I will stop by wen up the prices corner area frank
I have been patiently waiting and am really excited about your new venture. Wishing you great things with your new venture. I definitely will be popping in frequently!
Is there away I could get a hold of u to talk about an event?
I still can’t picture where this is at! Is it on the back side of the sears parking lot?
I work at the bank in the shopping center and drove by the other day. Yelling from the window when will they be open. The couple there were very enthusiastic and said come on over for a free hot dog!! If this the customer service now I can’t wait to go there to try out the food and atmosphere!!
Best of luck . I was there with my brother Harold Bockman, Speaker of the house, when it opened as a needed post office. Great memories
I tried to stop here the other day? No sign or anything out front. Is it closed?
Yes, across from Cheney’s on the Pike bar.
Yes, across from Cheney’s on the Pike bar.
what town?