Diplomat Deli
Diplomat Deli is a sandwich shop and cafe located at the end of the Park South Plaza shopping center at 1425 Montgomery Highway in Vestavia Hills.
The business was founded as a wine shop in 1982. Terry Green and a partner purchased it in April of the following year and expanded its selection of cold beers and specialty sandwiches. Over time the demand for seats pushed the wine shelves to the outside walls to make way for more tables. A remodeling of the shopping center in 2003 created a new outdoor patio space.
Current owners Justin Gober and Joseph Hoskin purchased the business in 2016. They eliminated the package liquor sales and further expanded the beer selection with a draft system. They also added live events to the calendar.
Many of the staff members, including general manager Felix Cruz and head server Teresa Boone have remained with the deli through its changes in ownership.
During the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic the business survived by cutting costs and promoting patio seating and take-out service from an outside table.
References
- Simmons, Emma (December 1, 2018) "The Same Old Dip" Vestavia Hills magazine
- Goodman, Joseph (March 9, 2021) "Diplomat Deli owner stayed open by adapting and belt-tightening." The Birmingham News
External links
- Diplomat Deli website