Deli run by Chef Teeka joins a growing food scene downtown

Southern Belle Deli and Catering Co. has moved into a building at Fifth and Main streets.
Owner Shateeka Gibson stands behind the counter of Southern Belle Deli and Catering shortly after opening Tuesday for the first day at her new location downtown. (Photo by Jennifer P. Brown)

Another lunch option is opening today in downtown Hopkinsville. The Southern Belle Deli and Catering Co. has set up shop at the corner of Fifth and Main, across from Hopkinsville Brewing, with plans for a grand opening at 11 a.m.

Southern Belle’s owners are Shateeka and Paul Gibson. Shateeka, better known in Hopkinsville as Chef Teeka, has been in business for several years as a caterer and previously ran a restaurant at 11th and Main streets. 

The new venture will operate from a smaller building, so the menu will focus on soup, salads, sandwiches, meal prep and take-and-bake options, the owners announced on Facebook.

The sandwich meats include more than 25 types of ham, turkey, beef, chicken, bologna, liverwurst and Italian varieties — plus several types of cheese. They also sell the Boards Head-brand meat and cheeses by the pound. A “Veganista” sandwich includes hummus, avocado, spinach, cucumbers, sprouts and sweet peppers on ciabatta bread.

Southern Belle is the ninth food or beverage business that has opened in the heart of downtown in the last four years. 

Hours will be 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, but Shateeka said she may expand the hours later.

(This story has been updated with hours of operation, menu details and an interior photo.)

Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. She spent 30 years as a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition.