A bit of South Jersey roadside Americana will soon disappear, and a beloved restaurant owner will move on to his next chapter after 42.5 years… as the D&S Subs shop in Waterford Works has set Saturday December 21st as the last day of being open.
“It’s time. I’m ready” said owner Daryl Salvatore Sr, who has been standing in front of the grill for over 4 decades.
That being said Daryl clearly has a strong love for the almost 80 year old building and the community around it.
I joked that he had to keep the grill because that’s where all the delicious cheesesteak flavor was locked in and Daryl added “ohh I’m keeping the grill, the sign outside and even the counter. Not exactly sure what I’m going to do with all but I think I’m going to set up a bar at my house with the counter”
The full property at the corner of White Horse Pike and Waterford-Blue Anchor Road is almost 6 acres… which grabbed the attention of Wawa developers who have been going through a long and lengthy process to get full approval to develop a new Super Wawa at the location.
Daryl says construction crews aren’t ready to show up just yet but this has been a many year approval effort, and sensing the lengthy process was getting closer to being finalized he decided it was time to close the shop, spend a relaxing holiday season with his family.. and catch up on some traveling.
“I’ve always wanted to go to Italy”
Daryl tells 42Freeway that he and his wife Kim actually have been able to travel over the years and they recently went to Scotland, but that’s the challenges of operating a small restaurant such as D&S Subs on the White Horse Pike… While there is an amazing and loyal staff and his son is a big part of the restaurant, if Daryl wasn’t available to work… the restaurant didn’t open.
There was an underlying tone to this decision to sell and close the sub shop… Daryl wants to get out more into the world… more life, more family which includes 5 children.
Recognizing his quick wit I asked with a smile “hey how about doing a couple cheesesteak experience video reviews with me around South Jersey”… to which Daryl replied “I’m not sure I’d be good at that, the only cheesesteak I’ve ever eaten.. was made right on this grill”
Daryl purchased the restaurant in 1982 when at 20 years old he saw an opportunity to start his own restaurant and revive an iconic building.
The D&S building was originally opened in 1948… developed by the original restaurant owner who lived in the house next door to the sandwich shop.
1948 was just a couple years after the end of World War II, soldiers were returning home, and America had fallen in love with the automobile. Big highways had not been developed yet across South Jersey, so these iconic roadside restaurants and Taverns popped up alongside roads like the White Horse Pike and the Black Horse Pike, catering to travelers making their way down to the Jersey Shore and other destinations.
The D&S Subs shop was developed with an art-moderne architecture which emerged in the 1930s, featuring curving forms with rounded corners, smooth walls and long horizontal lines. It’s somewhat of an Americanized version of the art-deco style. That being said the building would fit perfectly within the front entrance walkway of “Hollywood Boulevard” in Disney Studios Florida.
When Daryl had taken over the sub shop in the early ’80s it had been closed for 10 years, and he quickly got to work repairing the property and reopening it.
Daryl has done amazing things with his business over the decades but one of the more important things he did was… nothing.
Meaning in his 42 years of ownership he really has not changed the style of the building at all, and visiting is like walking back in time to 1948.
You’ll be so caught up in this classic American dining experience with small luncheonette counter that when you walk back outside you’ll expected to see a Packard parked out in front of the restaurant.
As an example, I noted that the old-school plastic lettering sign showed cigarettes priced at $4.91.
“I used to sell cigarettes and that’s the price they were when I stopped selling them 22 years ago. I just never changed the sign”.
Which leads me into a few things I picked up about Daryl in my first and only meeting with him.
He’s a very witty guy and he’s also a deep thinker… which clearly go hand-in-hand. There’s absolutely a lot more going on in his mind as he’s preparing delicious cheesesteaks and other sandwiches on the grill.
“15,525” he says to me as I was eating an awesome cheesesteak and hoagie, which I was sharing with a friend who came along for the trip.
“That’s how many days I have stood in front of this grill, owning this restaurant”
Daryl also says he has kept track of every single sandwich that he has ever made. “I’m not really sure what I’ll do with it. Maybe one day I will go through them all and count them for a full total”
In another part of the menu signage he offers special pricing on items such as “Stupid question permit $5.00.” As I was sitting down getting ready to order I volunteered to Daryl that I should just give him 5 bucks right now… He responded “it’s $5 per question“.
I’m not sure I brought along enough cash for that!
The roadside sign for the D&S Subs shop also carries that 1948 style of art-deco and neon, with a lower section letterboard. One of his more iconic sayings for locals driving by was “U-Turns Free With Purchase”.
Today that sign says “We Will Close Forever December 21. Thank You.”
Which is another thing that stood out to me as I sat with my friend at the counter, trying to find the appropriate time to fire another question off to Daryl who was very busy creating amazing looking sandwiches on the small grill… the community really loves Daryl and his sandwiches.
A steady stream of customers would come in offering measured doses of Congratulations and Sadness to the upcoming closure.
“Congratulations Daryl! I am so happy for you and your family. We’re going to miss this place”
“Me too” replied Daryl as he turned back to the grill to place slices of American cheese on a cheesesteak order.
Links and Location
D&S Subs – Last Day Saturday December 21st
305 S White Horse Pike
Waterford Works, NJ 08089