Sunday, March 22, 2009
New River Deli in Pembroke is still down-home
New River Field Guide
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It's painful to see Tickle's convenience store empty.
The store had a pretty good run after taking over the Hoges Chapel shop on U.S. 460 that had been Ron's Stop-N-Shop for many a year. You may recall a previous Field Guide when I raved about it. Sadly, it's now closed.
But fear not. The famous Tickle's food is still available, down the road in Pembroke at the New River Deli.
In last week's Field Guide I showed a picture of the doors at Sal's in Blacksburg. They signaled that Sal's had gone upmarket.
Well, take a look at the doors at the New River Deli. The letters that say "NEW RIVER HAR WAR" assure us that Tickle's is still down-home. If anything, it's a little more rough and ready than the old location.
Sodas are in the fridge. Ice is in the freezer. A flower pot and doily are on each table. Regis and Kelly are on TV. The employees are laughing and talking with the customers.
The menu at breakfast is biscuit-centric. Biscuit and gravy. Sausage and egg biscuit. Fried bologna with cheese biscuit. You can get a breakfast sandwich instead, if you're not into biscuits. But c'mon, have a biscuit.
At lunch you can get a double bacon cheeseburger, catfish strips, a fish fillet, a Texas toast steak sandwich or even a salad. For dessert, consider splitting a bag of chocolate-covered peanut butter balls.
After you dine, you can have a look around. The place is several stores in one. It has the kitchen and dining area, a convenience store, gas pumps and -- as the door suggested -- hardware. Hinges, pipes, bolts, etc. Some of it appears to be stock from the old Ben Franklin store. (There's another place that's painful to see empty.)
Bottom line: Tickle's is gone, but long live the New River Deli.
