Another example of how weather can change lives is the story behind why Mediterranean cuisine is being served at the Blackstone Building Downtown.
Gilbert Rexhepi and Daniel Isa celebrated the one-year anniversary of their D&G Deli and Grill in March after relocating from Detroit, where they ran a 180-seat, full-service restaurant and cocktail lounge.
“We didn’t want to have to shovel snow any more,” said Isa.
The Albanian immigrants decided to leave Detroit and head to Florida. The brothers and business partners came to Jacksonville in January 2015 to visit friends.
While they were here, they decided to look for an opportunity and discovered the sandwich shop on the ground floor at the Blackstone Building was for sale.
It was a way to not only leave behind their snow shovels, but a way to adopt a new work routine as well.
Serving breakfast and lunch Monday-Friday is a far cry from serving dinner and closing a lounge after midnight seven days a week
“We wanted a change in lifestyle. In Detroit, we were going to work at 4 p.m. every day and we were there until after the bar closed. Now, we’re done by 4 p.m.,” said Rexhepi.
The new owners got a change in their work schedule and people looking for something to eat got a new menu of appetizers, entrees, sandwiches and salads.
They enhanced the traditional Downtown sandwich shop selection that had been served in the space for decades with restaurant-style Greek specialties.
They kept the burgers and tuna melt, but bumped up the menu with hummus, chicken wings, lamb gyro, stir fry, kebabs, specialty salads and smoothies.
Commercial deli meats were replaced by fresh corned beef, ham and turkey roasted in the kitchen behind the counter.
Rexhepi visits the Jacksonville Farmers Market on West Beaver Street each morning to pick up vegetables and also fruits for the grill’s juice bar.
“Everything we serve is fresh, homemade, local — and organic whenever possible,” he said.
One of the most popular items they introduced is the D&G pita: a BLT plus fried chicken breast wrapped in flatbread.
Sides include chips, fries, salad or homemade soup.
After 12 months in business, they’ve become a part of the neighborhood and their decision to buy the sandwich shop is validated.
“We wanted to be Downtown where there are a lot of office workers,” said Rexhepi. “We have made a lot of friends.”
Plans for the second year include adding more healthy-choice sandwiches and entrees, with an eye toward expanding the business.
“We’re thinking about looking for a second location,” Isa said, possibly near the Duval County Courthouse and Hemming Park.
D&G Deli and Grill, located at 233 E. Bay St., is open 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday and weekends during events.
@DRMaxDowntown
(904) 356-2466