Amy Williamson has a lot on her plate. Just two years after opening Flavor, a local spice shop and kitchen boutique, she is taking another culinary leap with the addition of the Downtown Deli & Market. Focusing on farm/market-to-table products, Downtown Deli & Market has been busy serving the lunch crowd in Lee's Summit this summer.
Preparing food for customers was not in Amy’s original business plan. However, Flavor offered Sample Saturdays that were a tremendous success. While the kitchen portion of the spice shop, The Flavor Lab, was intended for cooking classes, she expanded the options and hosted SOUPer Thursdays. “The next thing I know, the soups are selling out in an hour and a half, every Thursday. We started adding paninis and grilled cheese sandwiches. ” Amy says it was then that she realized people would pay to eat her food.
With the success of SOUPer Thursdays, Amy was busting at the seams to share more. When the retail space next to Flavor became available, she knew it was time to take her dream one step further. Inspired that so many people in Lee’s Summit make it a priority to support local businesses, Amy was eager to fill a need and offer a neighborhood deli. “I love soups and sandwiches and salads, so this was right in my wheelhouse. It just made sense to do it,” she says.
Amy’s relationship with food runs deep. She says, “I relate most of my life memories specifically to food. I can remember more about what I was eating when I did something than any other thing that was going on around me.”
All the food items on the Downtown Deli & Market menu evolve from personal food experiences Amy has had from her travels abroad, throughout the States or locally in Kansas City. She has a knack for tasting something and then translating the ingredients to emulate a version of it in her own kitchen. All without the help of a recipe.
When it comes to sandwiches, Amy thinks a good one is constructed. “Your bread is the canvas, and you have all these layers. What you do in between those two pieces of canvas is the art.” From her made-from-scratch garlic aioli to the balsamic dressing to the choices of meat and cheese to the shredded lettuce to the diced and marinated tomatoes—everything is painstakingly created.
Amy cares passionately about the eating experience and the quality of the food.
The spices and balsamics come from all over the world to get the best quality, but almost everything else that is edible, on both sides of the establishment, is locally made. All the bread and everything in the pastry case comes from Bloom Baking Company. Amy selects cheeses and meats from local dairies and farms, most within 120-mile radius. An advocate of using as many local products as possible, she says, “At this point, I am supporting a little over 40 different small batch food makers in the Kansas City area, the majority of which are women owned.”
In addition to fresh food ingredients, Amy has access to the full selection of spices, oils, and seasonings available at Flavor. When trying out a new recipe, Amy says she can browse Flavor for the perfect ingredients and feels “like a kid in a candy store.”
The menu at Downtown Deli & Market is updated every four to six weeks, based on seasonal specials. They offer gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian selections. Additionally, there is a Grab and Go section for customers who are in a hurry.
Williamson, a self-taught cook, has always loved making meals. She has fond memories of being in the kitchen with her mom and grandmother, however, she really honed her skills as a young mother. “The truth is when I was in my early 20s, I was a single mom and went to college. We lived in campus housing for non-traditional students. I made friends with all these other parents and started cooking. We all learned how to cook together.”
Amy is thankful to be part of the downtown Lee’s Summit business landscape. Philanthropic by nature, she works hard to give back to the community and prioritizes volunteering. Her efforts have been recognized, as Flavor was awarded the 2022 Business of the Year by the Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street organization.
Check them out in person at 318 Main Street or learn more online at linktr.ee/flavorkc1.