I hope you enjoy the journey I am about to take you on..

 I cannot begin to explain the history of Do Dah Deli without taking you back to Northern California (a little town called Fremont, 45 minutes south of San Francisco) in the year of 1965. That is where Diane and Bill met. On a corner, waiting for the light to change. Very soon after they met they were engaged, in a little diner called “BIG DADDY’S” Six weeks later came marriage and a deployment with UNITED STATES ARMY to Alaska for Bill to guard our nation during the Vietnam conflict.

So, now you know the very beginning of the Battaglia family….

Diane and Bill were babies themselves when Maria came along in 1966. Shortly followed by Nicole in 1969.

They were a family that loved food. Diane loved to cook and Bill loved to eat. J Through their years of marriage Diane cooked her favorite meals from her family of Pennsylvania Dutch and Scottish heritage. She loved to learn new dishes, and so it goes that her Italian Mother in law taught her the ropes. Diane was unstoppable in her learning of culinary skills.

Diane worked many hours in others kitchens and dining rooms. She worked in the Circuit board industry for many years. Always yearning to create in the kitchen.

Then one day in 1996 Bill arrived home with the news that he wanted to retire in St Mary’s County Maryland! He had worked there on and off for about 20 years at PAX RIVER. Diane’s first response was WHERE?? So, off they went on a vacation to scout out the area..  Diane thought it was beautiful.. But, could she leave her home state, her children, and grandkids??? Time did not allow her to contemplate.. Their Farm house sold within weeks and off they went on their new adventure.

First order of business; find a home that EVERYONE could live in.

In March of 1997 they arrived in their new home in Hollywood, Maryland.

 With that done, NEXT was bribing the girls to come east… It took a year but it worked~ with promises of finally opening a restaurant. Maria and Nicole packed their cars, kids and animals and off they headed..

In the spring of 2000 Do Dah Deli opened on the square in Historic Leonardtown. We were welcomed with open arms followed by a lot of questions. Mostly regarding our name and décor..

Our name is taken from a line in a GRATEFUL DEAD song “TRUCKIN”

Truckin like a do dah man.

Why??

Because we wanted something musical as this is our other passion. Also Maria is a “Deadhead” and a lover of Jerry Garcia.. So, that led us into the whole 1960’s, San Francisco theme. Everything we loved together in one place. Family, Food, Music, and Home.

For 5 wonderful years we fed our beloved community. We fell in love with our customers, and we met wonderful people (some even famous). We were so amazed with the love that came in and out of  the deli on a daily basis we never wanted to leave. We had it good for a little deli. We had great employees. Donna, Tracy, Norah, Caryn, and Miranda. Also the grandparents!! Nana Helen in the kitchen and Grandpa Bill was our very first delivery driver! Nana will be back in the new location. We lost grandpa back in August of 2004. They were with us through it all!!!  And many in-betweens who went on to take other paths.

Then came the news in December 2004

Our lease was not renewed and the building sold. L We closed our doors on December 17 2004

In the two years we were closed, a baby was born, a trip to California was taken, a high school graduation took place, and life happened. Our lives continued on in St Mary’s County. Every where we went we heard the community calling us back. Loudly sometimes! But always with conviction and love. Could we re- create the magic? It was so special in so many ways.

We could do it again!!

We heard ourselves say one January day in 2007

Different but the same.

Bigger but just as fun.

So, here we are back on our “LONG STRANGE TRIP”

Only this time you can find us on Route 5 in Leonardtown

Just follow the tye dye……