A new family-owned business is offering up a local bite of the Big Apple.
Galvin’s Delicatessen is serving up the flavors and feeling of a New York-inspired deli right in downtown Fredericksburg. Owned and operated by husband and wife Paul and Emma Stoddard, the story behind the city’s new soup and sandwich shop is somewhere between 20 and 120 years in the making.
The pair of University of Mary Washington alumni first met nearly two decades ago at Sunken Well Tavern, which Paul founded as one of the original owners. With his culinary experience and Emma’s background in baking and management, the pair had long dreamed of opening their own restaurant in the area, one inspired by Emma’s fond memories of her Jewish grandmother’s cooking and trips to the local deli for sandwiches.
Their debate between food truck and physical restaurant got a little easier once the couple found and fell in love with the space at 218 William Street, which reminded Emma of the speakeasy her great grandfather used to operate during Prohibition. The Galvin’s name is a “rebirth” of that early 1900s Jersey City bar behind an ice cream shop, “Martin Galvin’s Cafe.”
Both native and aspiring New Yorkers should feel right at home ordering off a menu that features a Katz-style selection of “Classics” that include corn beef, pastrami, turkey and brisket sandwiches, all “smoked, braised and boiled” in house.
Other offerings include a NY Frankfurter, a Reuben / Rachel melt, chicken and egg salads as well as Matzo Ball Soup, all made from scratch and with as many farm-to-table ingredients the couple can get their hands on. That includes veggies from Snead’s Asparagus Farm in Caroline County as well as local beef and duck eggs from Locust Grove’s Schlund Family Farm. The bagels are also must-try, which are also made in house from Emma’s recipe during a 24 hour process for a fresh batch each morning.
“We want to make sure it’s things we want to eat, our kids want to eat,” Emma says in regards to the items that made the final menu. Galvin’s Delicatessen includes a separate kid’s space that’s packed with games and books to keep little ones occupied after they eat.
Since opening the doors in early April, the Stoddards say they’ve received lots of positive feedback and good reviews while they’re still “figuring out the flow” of the new establishment.
They’re excited to get the word out about the second floor’s River’s End speakeasy, which features the same focus on locally-grown ingredients with homemade, handcrafted syrups and cocktails. Emma credits her team of bartenders for always coming up with new and fresh ideas for drinks. Access to that space includes a private password reservation for an exclusive
Galvin’s Delicatessen is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays (11:00 AM – 4:00 PM), Thursdays and Fridays (11:00 AM – 8:00 PM) and Saturdays (9:00 AM – 8:00 PM) at 218 William Street in downtown Fredericksburg.
Visit galvinsdeli.com for more information about hours, menu and more.
