New Duffyfield deli and grill offers unique ‘loaded’ menu at affordable prices

Divine intervention.

That’s how David Woodby describes the series of improbable events that brought him to New Bern nearly five years ago and led to the opening of his new restaurant in the Duffyfield community.

As Woodby tells it, when he and his family decided to move south from their home in Troy, NY, their final destination was decided when he picked up a dart and launched it at a map on the wall. When it landed on the little twin rivers city, he called his niece to give her the news.

“She said, ‘Oh cool, so you talked to your sister, that’s where she is.’ I had no idea,” Woodby said. “My sister is 30 years older than me, so it’s not like we hung out.”

Adding to his surprise, Woodby also found out his cousin, Terre Holloway, as well as several aunts and uncles, were also living in New Bern.

“To me I feel like it’s divine intervention” he admitted. “I’m here for a reason so I just got to keep plugging along.”

That determination eventually led to Double D’s Deli and Grill, Woodby’s family-run business that opened on Jan. 1.

“We call Jan. 1 national hangover day. We did pretty good,” he laughed.

Woodby said the deli’s name came from a friend who began calling him “Double D” for reasons he has yet to figure out.

“I don’t even know where that came from, it just got to the point where everyone was calling me that and nobody knew my real name anymore,” he said.

Located at 1003 Main St., the deli sits directly beside Holloway’s store, Dodge City Market. Woodby said he purchased the building in Dec. 2021 and began renovation and repair work the following month. He worked nights and weekends on the project while holding down a full-time lawn care business during the day.

Woodby said he did 99% of the work himself. He estimated he spent $50-$60,000 on the down payment for the building and repairs, using recycled materials for everything from the ceiling tiles to the wainscoting and countertops, which are made out of pieces of scrap wood.

In addition to himself and his sons, Woodby said various cousins and aunts round out the deli’s staff.

“It feels good,” he commented. “I just want to have fun while we’re doing it.”

Double D’s Deli and Grill is open 8 a.m-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday. The deli is closed from sundown on Friday to sundown Saturday in observance of the Sabbath. It opens back up Saturday night until 3 a.m. Sunday hours are 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Woodby said Double D’s menu focuses on giving customers “more bang for their buck” in light of the country’s current economic situation.

“This isn’t just to feed Duffyfield, it’s anybody that wants a healthy meal and to get filled up and not spend all your money. We’re not trying to fleece the people,” he commented.

As an example, Woodby offered a description of Double D’s “pretty healthy” breakfast offerings.

“We give you three eggs, grits, home fries, and your choice of meats,” he explained. “When you leave here we want you to be full. I go by the motto that if you leave here and you’re still hungry that’s your one fault. If somebody says they’re hungry we’ve got to give them some more.”

Woodby said he also takes pride in the size and ingredients of Double D’s hamburgers, which are so filling they come with a friendly warning.

“We’re using all local stuff, all the meats and vegetables. We’re trying to keep the money within the community,” he noted. “The single burgers are going to slow your afternoon down. The double burgers, we’ve been telling people you shouldn’t have anything to do after you eat. And then the triples basically come with a blanket and a pillow.”

Woodby said the deli has also begun preparing fried chicken and beef hot dogs, which will soon be available with a specialty Zippy sauce imported from a family friend, as well as diced onions and spicy mustard.

“They’re amazing,” Woodby said. “I’m excited for everyone to taste them.”

The deli also offers chicken fingers and chicken sandwiches with fresh, locally-sourced chicken breasts that are cut down and breaded in-house.

“We get what we need for that day and that’s it,” Woodby said.

Double D’s Deli and Grill does dine-in as well as takeout orders. The dining area currently has seating capacity for 32 but Woodby said that may expand in the future.

Beginning this summer, Woodby said he plans to provide delivery service as well.

Other changes are also coming once the weather warms up.

Woodby plans to offer Mozzarella sticks with a homemade raspberry marmalade sauce that, he claims, gives the treats a flavor similar to raspberry cheesecake.

When his meat slicer arrives, Woodby said he will add subs to the menu, including Philly cheese steak, chicken parmesan and meatball sandwiches. Like Double D’s breakfasts and hamburgers, he guaranteed that the subs will be “loaded.”

“You’re going to get a good deal,” he remarked. “I want you to be like ‘Wow, this whole thing is mine?’ I’m trying to give you a little bit more with the way things are today. If I’m making a profit and I’m giving you a good quality product and you’re full, then we’re good.”

Woodby said he will also start preparing pizza this summer after he picks up an oven from New York and plans to hold fish fries using haddock brought down from a supplier in Maine.

“We’ll start those on a Friday afternoon and as more people ask we’ll sprinkle that out through the week,” he explained.

Woodby has plans to expand Double D’s services beyond those of a typical deli. To begin with, he would like to add on a covered outdoor dining area with TV’s.

“I fought MMA for about 12 years so I’ve already been talking to them about getting the fights,” he said. “It gives people something else to do.”

Noting the empty space on the deli’s walls, Woodby pointed to an area where he plans to hang a 70 inch TV. He said work by local artists will also be welcomed.

A Double D’s monthly “sip and paint night” and other events are currently in the planning stages, Woodby said.

“I have a group of people who enjoy spoken word (poetry readings) and they haven’t really had too much of a venue,” he commented. “I can put a small stage in here and we can do that on certain nights. We’d start out at 8:00 and get it over at 10:00. I think that would be cool.”

Woodby, an avid motorcyclist, said he has been in discussion with local riding clubs about kicking off their charity runs at the deli. He is also adamant that Double D’s will host a “come one, come all” turkey BBQ competition festival at some point in the future.

“I just want people to have something to do here and have some fun,” he said.

Woodby said the experience of opening a new business in New Bern’s Duffyfield community “means everything.”

“It feels like I’m just letting everybody know, ‘Hey, you can do it. I did it already so if you want help, I’ll help you, I’m here,’ ” he commented. “By all means I encourage everybody in this area to help build up. If you have an idea and that entrepreneur spirit you’ve just got to jump out the window.”

Reporter Todd Wetherington can be reached by email at wwetherington@newbernsj.com. 

This article originally appeared on Sun Journal: New Duffyfield deli offers ‘loaded’ menu at affordable prices