Ted started working at the restaurant at 9 years old and you could see the reasons he is still here; pride, family tradition, and genuine care for his customers and friends. I sat down with a tall, cold glass of tea and spoke with some of them. They told me how long they had been coming here and how they would wait for "their table", even if they had to take a walk around the block just to get "their" seat. Now that's loyalty.
As I headed upstairs, I noticed all the family portraits that adorned the walls. The 10-room Inn is named after Ted's children, Scot and Lauren and it was neat seeing the generations that had led to the kids. The pictures were labeled with the names below so you got to see Aunt Susan and Uncle Willy, etc. It was odd seeing numbers on the rooms instead of family member names, but then I remembered that the rooms were decorated to look and feel like it was the early 1900s.
My room had a full size bed with 2 night stands and lamps, phone, a chair, a 4-drawer dresser and a 20" TV. There was a sink in the corner of the room with cabinets and a hair dryer was on the wall with a butler's basket beneath it. A full length mirror and a bookshelf loaded with books finished off the room. The heating/cooling for the room had a "remote control" unit that you clicked on "I feel too cold" or "I feel too hot". These commands activated the controls! In the closet was an iron/ironing board, blankets, pillows and a rollaway bed if needed. The private bathroom had a shower.
As I headed out to take a walk around old Annapolis, I noticed a quaint menu on the back of the door that listed the breakfast choices awaiting me in the morning. I walked down to the docks and went in some pretty old stores. I even found and bought a great pair of binoculars. I went into a local pub and had 12 oysters on the half shell with a tall glass of iced tea. I returned to my room and worked on pictures for a while. Then, I took a stroll along the second floor level and enjoyed more photos of the Levitt family.
The next morning, I walked around and noticed more things about the deli. There are pictures throughout of famous folks that have dined or sent Ted pictures. Brooks Robinson, Greta Van Susteren and so many more adorned the walls. If only they could talk......
Also, Ted has created famous sandwiches for people/politicians. People love them. I was introduced to a former governor of Maryland, Marvin Mandel. He enjoys his newspaper in his private booth each morning.
I ate at the bar and had 2 eggs over easy, country style potatoes, bacon and toast with jelly. Of course, my staple of Lipton hot tea was beside me. I saw the biggest doughnuts EVER going out the door, but I resisted! I watched the waitresses and workers. They knew every customer and within 10 minutes, they had all smiled and greeted me. What a place! They even have "delly" T-shirts for sale. This is definitely one of the best values in town.
Donna Greenwall has sung the Star Spangled Banner at every baseball park in the country. But, it was HERE that she chose to sing it on Good Morning America! What came next was probably one of the reasons.
At 8:30 sharp (as it has for the last 35 years), the Governor, employees and customers stopped and joined Ted in the morning Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. As I took pictures of the event, it struck home. This really is a place out of the past......"a time portal."
I said my goodbyes and stepped onto the sidewalk. Weird.......it was just like Ted had said, "In here, you are in the color portion of Wizard of Oz." As I looked around outside, it suddenly seemed black and white.
Make sure you make This Inn part of your next trip to Annapolis and tell them Cruising America sent you when you step through the "time portal".
A Winding Road * (formerly Cruising America) * * 336-984-9648 * freedom04@awindingroad.net
