New downtown deli opening in spot near Tennessee St.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Memphis woman is counting on her 35-plus years in the fast food industry to run a successful sandwich shop downtown.

Kellie Barksale is opening Kellie’s Deli at the corner of Tennessee and G.E. Patterson, and she’s getting some help from her brother and daughter, who are also partners in the business.

“We’ve worked together before. So we are definitely all looking forward to it. Being our own bosses, so to speak,” said Barksdale.

The deli will serve sandwiches, soups, and a variety of desserts. Barksdale and her brother, Jessie Alls, will work in the kitchen, and Barksdale’s daughter, Ashley, will help manage the place.

“We are going to make some of our products for our sandwiches, and we will use Boar’s Head for most of the sandwiches, and I’m making the soups, and then we’ll make the desserts ourselves, too,” said Barksdale.

Barksdale lives in the neighborhood and has had her eye on the storefront inside the historic Emerge Memphis building for a while. The Big River Market moved out of the location last August after a year in business.

Barksdale has seen restaurants in Memphis come and go and knows how difficult the business can be, but felt this was the right time to take a leap of faith.

“I have the fear of being too busy and then not doing any business at all,” said Barksdale. “I think you get a lot of foot traffic, maybe when it’s not 99 degrees out, but a lot of traffic from the condos and things like that. Even the farmer’s market down the street. So, I’m hoping we’ll do really well.”

Kellie’s Deli will have seating inside and outside and operate seven days a week. The restaurant is expected to officially open its doors in late August.

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