New Barr on Midland Street

Source: Bay City Times
Feeling blue?

Then head on over to Margie's Homestyle Deli in the heart of the Midland Street Historic District.

In addition to homemade soups, salads, sandwiches and party platters, the West Side deli at the corner of East Midland and North Walnut streets features blues memorabilia and music.

"I love the blues," said owner Margie Barr. She opened the deli March 30 at the former site of Tommy V's Italian restaurant, 717 E. Midland St.

She and her husband, Todd, went to Chicago in August for their seven-year wedding anniversary and got hooked on the music. "I don't know anything in the Bay City area that has a blues theme, so I opened this place up, because I think it's something all ages can enjoy," she said.

Blues isn't the only thing she loves. The former Grampa Tony's waitress who has been working in restaurants since she was 16 loves to cook, too.

"I've always wanted to open a restaurant, and a deli was the best way to go about it," said Barr, 32, of Essexville.

"I like other people to enjoy my cooking, and experimenting with different flavors and cooking is fun for me."

Her homemade chili is a staple at the newly opened restaurant across from MacMillan Associates Inc.

"It's really good. It's got a little bit of a bite to it, it's got plenty of hamburger in it, vegetables, green peppers, onions, celery and kidney beans," Barr said.

She changes the soups she serves daily. One day it may be vegetable beef, another day it may be chicken noodle, cream of broccoli, minestrone, or beef barley.

"The Southwest White Chili - I get calls for that all the time - can't seem to make enough of it," Barr said.

If soups are not your thing, don't forget about her sandwiches. From a Caesar chicken sub to a roast beef delight hoagie, there's something to suit your taste.

" 'The Mother Lode' is very popular - roast beef, ham, turkey, lettuce, tomato and onions piled high on an 8-inch sub bun," Barr said. Barr chose Midland Street to open her restaurant because she grew up in the area. "This is like my old stomping ground," Barr said.

"My husband was the driving force behind my decision to open my own place, because he's always liked my cooking for years.

"So we decided to take a risk, to see if things work out. ... Later on down the road, I may open a bigger restaurant instead of a deli, but you've got to try and start out with something, or else you'll never know." Margie's Homestyle Deli is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday.

For more information about the family run restaurant, call 893-8666.
Source: Bay City Times