Delilah’s Everyday Soul has secured a lease at Politan Row at Ashford Lane, bringing soul food like fried chicken and buzzworthy mac and cheese to the upcoming food hall in Dunwoody.
The restaurant has gained a following at its existing location at Chattahoochee Food Works.
Delana Winder Reeves, who co-owns Delilah’s Everyday Soul with her husband Jason, said she loves Politan Row at Colony Square, so she was eager to be a part of their next project.
“When I heard about Ashford Lane through my broker with terra alma, I was like, oh I know that area really well,” she told What Now Atlanta. “We’re just really excited to be a part of the project. We will have some similar items to what we currently have at our location now, but we’re going to add some different things to make it unique to that project.”
Delilah is her mother, a restaurateur who is still involved with the business.
“She had six locations of a similar concept in Philadelphia. She opened when I was nine,” Reeves said. “I essentially grew up in the business in all sense of the word.”
Reeves worked in education as a teacher and principal until an unexpected situation got her back into the restaurant world. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, they started reconnecting with Delilah’s customers via Facebook, Instagram and Youtube.
“It put the spark back for me about hospitality in general, and the food business,” she said.
Reeves said she enjoys operating at food halls because of the fun energy it brings and the ability to reach more people.
“One of the hardest parts of going to dinner with a group is where you’re going to go that everybody agrees on,” she said. “This takes that out. You can all get something different and enjoy it… We can absolutely do a standalone brick-and-mortar storefront, but this is a fun new spin. It brings a great energy more than anything.”
Delilah’s Everyday Soul has Oprah Winfrey’s stamp of approval, with the mac and cheese being dubbed the “best in the nation.”
In addition to the mac and cheese and fried chicken the brand is known for, Reeves said the sandwiches are also fan favorites, like the Southern Belle.
“It has everything on it that you can think of, from pimento cheese to fried green tomatoes, buffalo sauce,” she said. “It’s a pretty big sandwich, people absolutely love it.”
Another sandwich they serve is the Chicken Po-boy, a twist on a shrimp po-boy that features Creole seasoning they get from a friend in Louisiana.
Delilah’s Everyday Soul has been at Chattahoochee Food Works since November 2021.
“It was so reminiscent of my mom’s first location at the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia,” Reeves said. “There was a bit of nostalgia there.”
They have been garnering fans in metro Atlanta ever since.
“The popularity of Delilah’s Everyday Soul has made it one of the top vendors at Chattahoochee Food Works, and launching a second location is a testament to the brand’s growth and the ever-evolving Atlanta culinary scene,” said Maya Teague, associate at terra alma, the boutique real estate advisory firm that helped Delilah’s Everyday Soul secure the space. “Working with Delana to secure a second location for Delilah’s Everyday Soul at Politan Row has been a pleasure, and terra alma is thrilled to be a part of this next chapter.”
Politan Row at Ashford Lane is set to open this December in Dunwoody with nine vendors, a standalone restaurant and two unique bars. Previously announced concepts for the food hall include Tandoori Pizza & Wing Co., Gekko and 26 Thai, and Pretty Little Tacos. Mamacita’s Cuban Cantina, Bucatini Ristorante and Chef Viet join Delilah’s Everyday Soul in rounding out the final lineup.
[Editor’s Note: This story has been updated with comments from Reeves.]
