Simply Southern Deli in Perdido Key, Escambia County, United States | Deli

Two Ono Island residents, business partners Jim Rogers and Joe Watkins, began searching for a restaurant site convenient to residents of Ono Island and Perdido Key, United States.



Jim (called J R by friends) hails from Sand Mountain, a plateau in north-east Alabama widely known for it's superior quality produce. He attended Auburn University and later ventured to Texas where he gained experience in the food service industry at NIEMAN-MARCUS's flagship VIP restaurant in downtown Dallas. Returning to Alabama some eight years later, Jim applied his experience at several restaurants in Orange Beach and Pensacola. He later returned to north-east Alabama where he became general manager of the Garden Restaurant at the nearby famous Chattanooga Choo Choo. Once again, the "Gulf Coast"beckoned and Jim responded.



Joe, a native of Birmingham, graduated from The University of Alabama. His experience was in the retail business where he became president of ODUM BOWERS & WHITE, a family owned department store in Birmingham. Before the store was sold in 1978, Joe bought a home on Ono Island thereby becoming a pioneer island resident.



Having little luck finding a desirable site for a restaurant, they stumbled upon a grassy plot 800 feet east of the Alabama/Florida state line. It was adjacent to Perdido Key Drive and was surrounded by a gravel driveway and parking lot. The small plot also had water and power connections on it.



"WHAT A SITE FOR A PRODUCE STAND!" exclaimed Jim.





A lease for the east half ground floor of the adjoining building was acquired and the fresh seafood market was opened inside. Several months later the west side was vacated by the existing ice cream shop and was leased to establish a Deli. Originally named Truely Scrumptious Deli, after Hurricane Ivan was renamed Simply Southern Deli.

Hurricane Ivan devastated Perdido Key. Our building probably sustained the least damage of any on the key. Wind ripped off parts of the roof over the porch and eve. The surge came within inches of entering the building, it but washed out roadway and and all buried utilities. Our greatest damage resulted from the inability to gain access to the premises for several weeks which resulted in food spoilage in mold throughout the building. Due to the vast damage to the area infrastructure, it was almost one year to the day before we were able to reopen. .



Simply Southern Deli has sandwiches, soups, salads to hot and cold beverages on the menu.