Bayview Thriftway’s Delectable Deli: Serving Up Salads, Sandwiches, Burrito Bar, Ice Cream, And More

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A typical stop at Bayview Thriftway’s deli offers up a plethora of palate-pleasing fare: from gourmet sandwiches and burgers to creative cold salads and ice cream. You can even belly up to three different types of bars: salad, olive, and burrito.

And of course all meals and snacks from the Bayview Thriftway deli can be had morning, noon, and night.

An added bonus on top of this variety of delicious eats? You can then enjoy your fabulous food in one of two indoor seating areas or out on the deck – all of which serve up stunning water views.

“I figured if I couldn’t buy on the waterfront, I’d work on it,” laughs Bayview Thriftway deli and bakery manager Shelly Brown.

Brown has worked at Bayview Thriftway for nine years, where she began as a deli worker, moved into catering, and then the bakery. She’s managed the deli and bakery together for the past year.

An array of cold salads greets you as you enter the deli area, behind Bayview Thriftway’s gorgeous produce section.

For many years, every salad showcased was made on-site. But as more companies offered high-quality, delicious salads in even greater varieties than Bayview Thriftway’s staff of 17 could produce, the huge cold case’s selection grew to include Bayview Thriftway-made recipes tucked in alongside items made elsewhere in the region.

“Our potato salad has been the same recipe since we opened,” Brown says. “People come in just for our potato salad and if it’s the end of the day and we don’t have it, the response is, ‘Oh my gosh, no potato salad!’”

Brown’s talented staff has been making the same tasty ‘tater salad recipe for years. “That’s not something we’re going to buy from someone else,” says Brown.

Other salads that continue to be made in-house include the Italian bistro salad, chicken salad, coleslaw, and more.

No matter which salads you select from the cold case, you’re in for a treat. Made using only the best ingredients, the rotating selection of fresh concoctions are sure to pique your interest – and your taste buds.

Shelly regularly attends food shows, sussing out spectacular new cooks and items to include in Bayview Thriftway’s deli.

“We’re now buying salads from Michou up in the Pike Place Market,” says Brown. “We saw them at a food show, tasted their salads, and now have them delivered twice a week.”

Brown also buys salads and dips from Charlie’s Produce, a local company that recently bought out Real Foods and is the largest independently owned produce company in the Pacific Northwest.

Many salads make seasonal appearances in Bayview Thriftway’s deli, such as stuffing and yams at Thanksgiving and Waldorf salad at Christmas.

Summer is in full swing, so right now the cold case carries lots of pasta salads. “It’s more of a light affair this time of year,” says Brown. “The Granny Mac and the Greek With Envy salads are popular right now.”

Her hottest salad of late is chicken curry salad. “We’ve gone through 50 pounds this week!” exclaims Brown. “And if it’s not in the case, people notice.”

Bayview Thriftway’s deli is about much more than just spectacular salads.

All sandwiches are made on San Francisco Street Bakery bread, including the ciabatta bread used in all eight of Bayview Thriftway’s grilled paninis. Brown says the deli sells 200 of the grilled wonders each week.

The grilled panini menu includes vegetarian options – such as the Grilled Olympian with feta cheese, basil pesto, artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, pepperoncinis, spinach and tomato – and meatier varieties, like the Grilled Beef Baron, with roast beef, cream cheese, horseradish, crumbled blue cheese, red onions, tomato and bacon.

Is your mouth watering yet?

Patrons can nibble from the olive bar, order a custom burrito at the burrito bar, build a sky-high green salad, or even order a gourmet burger. Brown is currently offering a “Jarly Burger,” a 1/3-pound Black Angus burger with Jarlsberg cheese, chipotle mayo, lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickle on an amazing brioche bun.

The deli is known for its fabulous soups, including popular favorites of chicken coconut curry and five-star mushroom. “People call for the soups,” Brown says, so they can be sure their favorite soup is available before heading to the store.

Bayview Thriftway’s deli also brines and smokes its own smoked salmon.

Ready for dessert? You can choose from several amazing varieties of ice cream, sorbet, and gelato from Olympic Mountain Ice Cream.

It’s important to Brown – and to Stormans, local owner of Bayview Thriftway – to give back to the community. So you won’t find day-old items marked down in Brown’s deli or bakery. “I don’t have a clearance rack out there,” she explains. “Everything is donated to the Thurston County Food Bank. Right now, the food banks are hurting, so we try to do a lot for them.”

Another way Brown and the Bayview Thriftway deli helps local food banks is by donating ten percent of its profits from its Thrillin’ Grillin’ Barbecue, held every Thursday outside the store, rain or shine, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the summer and 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. during the rest of the year.

“The tent comes out and we start grilling up flank steak skewers and breaded beer brats,” says Brown. “We also have a barbecue pulled-pork sandwich that we do in our smoker right here on-site.” Sides include potato salad, coleslaw, and hot harvest beans.

It’s clear that Brown loves her work. She talks excitedly about the food, the people, and the store itself.

“My day goes by so fast,” she says, smiling. “Seriously, I don’t even know where nine years went. It’s a great job and it’s great people.”

Bayview Thriftway

www.bayviewthriftway.com

 

516 West Fourth Ave.

Olympia WA 098502

360.352.4897

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