Carey Way

Carey Way, owner of the Wayfarer Deli and Bistro, closed the doors to her popular downtown restaurant in June after seven years in business, leaving many of her customers wondering what went wrong.

Recently, Way discussed some of the reasons behind the restaurant's closure.

Way grew up in the restaurant business, helping to run her parents' Connecticut deli from the time she was old enough to have a job. Her parents would eventually move to Wilmington, while she and her husband and son spent several years living abroad. She eventually settled in Wilmington as well, and when her father passed away, she began to have thoughts of following in her parents' footsteps and opening a deli of her own.

It took her some time to find the right spot, but in 2010 she found and fell in love with the small café space at 110 S. Front St. She leased the space from Kyong Riddle and began with a small menu of artisan sandwiches. 

Way said that as time went on, she developed a steady customer base, which often included catering orders from Screen Gems Studios and various film productions. As business increased, she began to expand the menu. But with an expanded menu comes an expanded inventory, more prep work and the need for a staff to deliver consistent service as well as to manage the financial side of the business.   

Following a dispute with an employee who had handled the majority of the finances, Way found herself behind on taxes and struggling to catch up with the IRS. She found it increasingly difficult to keep up with both the front of the house and back of the house demands, but could only afford a skeleton crew to keep the business running and repay her unexpected debts. If just one person didn’t show up for work, the rest of the staff would be scrambling to try to cover all the bases, she said. 

Way said that the loss of business from the film industry, combined with her debts, made it very difficult for her to break even. She said the stress began to impact her health and that her attention to detail faltered because she simply couldn’t stay on top of everything.

“Things just became more and more stressful, and I became more and more overwhelmed,” Way said. 

Despite the fact that she had been behind on rent in the past and eventually caught up, Way said that when she became behind again in late spring of this year, she was evicted June 15. Riddle could not be reached for comment. 

“I’m not embarrassed,” Way said. “I did my best for seven years. I want my customers to know that I didn’t just disappear, that I’m healthy and I’m grateful.”

Way said that while she is still passionate about food, she no longer wishes to own her own business. She plans to work in the industry and pursue a book of recipes and anecdotes on life in the restaurant business. 

As for Way's former restaurant location, Promised Land Kitchen is now operating in the former Wayfarer space in downtown Wilmington.

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