Triple D's reopens, regroups at Erie's Flagship City Food Hall with new menu items
Editor's note: A previous version of this story misidentified Darrell Roberts' brother.
Darrell Roberts, 41, is still cooking and keeping the dream alive that he had with his brother, Rashid K. Anderson, until his death in 2014.
The only differences now are Triple D's is not a hot dog stand, which is what Roberts and Anderson started with in 2014, and it's not in Liberty Plaza, where he moved in 2021. Starting Monday (Jan. 8) it's in the spot in the Flagship City Food Hall, 22 North Park Row, most recently vacated by North Row Philly.
North Row Philly, owned by Chris Adams, also chef and owner at Bricks across State Street, left the Food Hall at the end of 2023.
"Nothing was wrong" at the Food Hall, Adams said. "I just wanted to run everything through Bricks."
Adams said his popular cheesesteak sandwiches would make appearances on specials at Bricks during lunch time and outside for sidewalk events, which are planned for this summer.
Meanwhile, back at North Park Row, Roberts was both excited and exhausted by the move, but he is more than ready to get going.
"Over in Liberty Plaza, I lost 15 employees" due to the labor shortage after the worst of the pandemic, he said. "How did I lose 15 employees?"
Old favorites and new items on the menu
For now, the father of four is happy to downsize and regroup at the Food Hall, hoping to preserve and build his clientele, with the same menu from Liberty Plaza, as well as some new additions, including New York "Chopped Cheese," Chicago-style lamb and chicken gyro sandwiches and shrimp po'boys. Those dishes join his popular Philly steak bagels, shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles and 40 flavors of whole wings on his standard menu.
"I want to include more cultures," he said, by adding affordable lunch combos, "without sacrificing quality."
Roberts said the Erie Downtown Development Corp. offered him a spot in November, but he didn't want to leave before the end of his contract in Liberty Plaza. It just worked out that once that was fulfilled, the Philly stall opened up.
"God is moving me forward," Roberts said.
What can customers expect?
He said customers can expect quality food made fresh to order, meaning customers might have to wait 15 to 25 minutes for their orders because nothing is in the fridge ready to serve.
"We take the time to do it right," he said, adding that his burgers and bagels are made with sirloin steak.
"It's worth it," he said. "I'm not trying to cut corners or put value over quality. Customer service comes first."
He said he'll appreciate the Food Hall's marketing opportunities and foot traffic, and until he can find and train another chef, his hours will stay the same as they were at Liberty Plaza: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and closed Sundays and Mondays.
The self-taught cook said he's looking forward to hiring and training new staff.
More: The ranks of Black-owned businesses in Erie are small but growing
"I just want to get rolling," Roberts said.
Contact Jennie Geisler at [email protected]. Or at 814-870-1885.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Triple D's moves from Liberty Plaza to Erie's Flagship City Food Hall