Gail’s Down The Street Cafe Keeps Restaurant Owner’s Legacy Alive
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WAKA)— It’s been nearly two months since the passing of Gail Royal, the long-time owner of Gail’s Down the Street Cafe, and Action 8 News stopped by the popular meat-and-three restaurant to see how the business is holding up.
Workers say that they hit a rough patch after Gail’s death but business has steadily picked up over the last few weeks.
The 74-year-old business woman died in early August after a year long battle with cancer and other health problems.
Gail’s family says even though they’re still mourning their loss, they’re working hard to keep her legacy alive.
They want to remind everyone that they are still open for business Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Restaurant officials even have plans to expand the menu by bringing back some of Gail’s original recipes.
“We feel her everyday. We feel her in the food. We feel her in the customer’s faces. She’s right here with us,” said Tina Martinez, a worker at Gail’s. “Her decor is all over the walls. Her spirit’s in here. She’s just here and we know she’s here. Of course, we know she’s in heaven but this is her. This is Ms. Gail all day long. From the outside, to the walls, to the food and to the employees…There’s time’s somebody will say something and somebody else will say ‘Yeah Ms. Gail would have said that’. So she’s here, she’s definitely with us.”
“I hope I’m falling in the footsteps of a great legend becuase she is a legend,” said Jamie McCandless, Gail’s daughter. “I’m glad I’m here, and I’m glad I can represent her and all that she stood for…She loved her customers. They were more than customers, they were her family. There’s been several holidays and occassions where there’s been customers at my house celebrating so they’re family…I just want everybody to know that I just want to do her proud and I know she’s looking over me. I just want to do a good job to represent her.”
Gail’s Down the Street Cafe opened in 1993 and will celebrate 33 years of business on October 28.
For more information, visit Gail’s Down the Street Cafe.
