Soul of 78: Brown’s Deli and Package Store

Words Special to 78 Magazine | Images by Al Blanton

For more than eight decades, Brown's Deli and Package Store has been a cornerstone of the Walker County community. Located in the Farmstead community, this beloved establishment has built a legacy rooted in good food, excellent service, and deep family ties.

The story of Brown’s began in December 1939 when John Lindsey opened a small grocery store next to the railroad tracks, a prime spot for serving the local community. In the 1940s, Virgil Brown, who later married Lindsey’s daughter Johnnie, invested in the business with a bank loan and helped transform it into the iconic Lindsey-Brown’s Grocery.

Over time, Brown’s became a gathering place. Stories passed down through generations claim that Elvis Presley once performed an impromptu show from the back of a truck in the parking lot, cementing the store’s reputation as a local landmark.

When Lindsey retired in the mid-1950s, Brown continued operating the store under a shortened name, Brown’s Grocery, but with the same dedication to quality and service that had made it a success. Years later, the business remained in the family when Lindsey’s daughter, Judy, and her husband, Lavell Price, took ownership. In 1986, they built the store’s current building and expanded its offerings with the addition of a deli.

In late 2006, Gayle Cacioppo, a lifelong customer of Brown's, purchased the business alongside local entrepreneur Todd Lee.

"I knew nothing about the wholesale business, but I knew a lot about customers and customer service," Cacioppo says. "I figured we could make it work between the two of us. Brown's has always been about spoiling the customer, and we could certainly do that."

Although Cacioppo sold the business in 2016, Brown's remains in good hands under its current owners, who are dedicated to preserving its legacy. Today, Kitchen Manager Nikki Quillen plays a key role in keeping Brown’s reputation alive and well.

"When I first started at Brown’s, I lived close to the store, and I was pregnant with my daughter, so I was just looking for a part-time job. It was never meant to be a full-time job,” Quillen says. “I started as a cashier for about three years, and when they found out I could cook, I took over the kitchen.”

Initially, Quillen focused on the lunch buffet, which was struggling at the time. Within a year, she turned things around, eventually overseeing all of Brown’s buffets. Her efforts have helped Brown’s gain even greater recognition, with the store now featured on the SEC Network show TrueSouth.

Brown’s has become more than just a local favorite—it attracts visitors from across the country, with customers coming from Florida, New York, Georgia, Tennessee, and Mississippi to experience its Southern charm and famous biscuits.

So, the next time you're craving a taste of true Southern hospitality, make your way to Brown's and savor a piece of history. 78