Chopping vegetables and mixing the chicken salad, Craig Frickey and Linda Harness are already preparing food for the lunch crowd.  And it’s only 8 a.m.

     Fresh salads, fruit, homemade soups specialty dishes and baked goods and desserts made from scratch line the counters at the J & S Country Store Deli.

     Located on Stemley Bridge Road in Pell City, across the street from the Cropwell Commons shopping center, customers will find anything to satisfy their cravings for fresh, homemade food.

     “We can make just about anything,” J & S Country Store owner Craig Frickey says.  “And if we can’t, we’ll find someone that can.”

     Husband and wife team Craig and Michelle opened the store back in 2000 but recently opened the deli within the last two years.

    “I don’t think many people realize it’s here,” Craig said.

     Since he was 10-years-old, Craig has been cooking and developed a love for it.  “I was at home by myself a lot as a kid and started playing around in the kitchen,” Craig said.  “I started out making things like sandwiches and spaghetti.  It just grew from there.”

     Craig says running the deli gives him the freedom to play around, try new things, see what people like and don’t like.  “We are evolving constantly.”

     New items on the menu include the fresh veggie sandwich and the hot pot roast sandwich.  Items are also prepared for holidays and special occasions.  During the week of Mardi Gras, Craig and his crew created a red beans and rice dish along with a chicken and sausage gumbo.

     Guests are welcome to dine in or grab it and go. For those in a hurry, J & S’ has a grab and go case with easy dishes like lasagna, spaghetti, hamburger steak and alfredo.  People may also call ahead and have their order ready,

     Craig, Michelle and Linda work to ensure their ingredients are always fresh.  Fruits and salads are prepared daily and everything is made from scratch.

“People in this business who don’t have a passion for food don’t need to be here,” Linda says.  Linda does all of the baking for the deli.

     Craig says the best part of his job is “seeing people take a bite of something and watching the expressions on their faces and know they enjoyed it.”