A Boxed Lunch in Richmond, Virginia Has People Lining Up at 6 A.M. 

When you see a bunch of grandma's in the back, that's all I needed to see. SOLD.

‘You got five different thangs in yo little lunch box, which is real nice’ 😍😍😍

I think part of the secret is......no one seems to be rushing around, everything is so calm. It must get into the food somehow.

The fact that multiple generations of a family works there and that employees have a strong work ethic speaks volumes about how well the employer must treat them.

no wonder its good! its made by grandmas!

I never thought I'd hear someone say "I'm gonna wait an hour here for the potato salad" with a giant smile on their face.

I like how they employ a lot of old people. I know having jobs for the young is very important but its nice to see there are places that will employ older people. A lot of old people are not ready to retire and are super bored, get depressed or suffer financially and need to keep working so I really appreciate that. It also guarantees that the food is extra good it seems! Who doesn't like a grandma made lunch?

He made me cry when he said “Now I’m sitting here in my grandma’s place”

its like an entire restaurant full of grama's cooking!

We need more places like this in America, Not chain corporate restaurants that feeds us poison...

Not to flex but. . .I’m currently watching this while eating my Sally Bell’s potato salad ☺️💜

That’s my auntie Joyce Brown!!

In culinary school, my teachers all taught us to prepare for working or running a Michelin star restaurant. I hated it, and it's probably because running a place like Sally Bell's has always been more of a dream for me. I don't want to charge 40 dollars a plate. I want to serve affordable, rib sticking comfort food to people who really appreciate it.

I thought the video was in slomo lol everyones so chill and calm its awesome

That chill black lady in the back who was talking about how it's real good sounded exactly like what I thought she was gonna sound like 😂

i really hope they’re doing well and the pandemic didn’t affect their sales too much

I really appreciate there not being a stupid voice-over like on food insider

When I heard her say "Light Turkey Sammich" I knew this place had to be legit

I like how they can sit down while doing this

How could it not be good? It's a gaggle of grandma's and a young man helping out!

4:15, it made me emotional when he said, "My grandma sat right here and my mama sat right there. So now I'm sitting in my grandma's spot." That's so real.

*sigh* *packs bags*

Fam this video had me at "these are called cheese wafers... They real good." That pause ment everything to me... I love it so much.

The lady who was like “wonder who can make potato salad” is a whole mood 🤣😂🤣🙏

That looks so good. If I had these instead of lunchables as a child I would be alot happier.

I just realized that their cupcakes are upside down and covered in frosting top to bottom. mother of god

Honey as soon as she said “samich” you already know it’s gotta be good.

This video was taped in their old location in the VCU area, but they've relocated to West Broad about 6/7 years ago. The food has remained the same... DELICIOUS and reasonably priced!

This is what America is all about - small businesses and love for each other regardless of who you are. I wish this business and the employees continued happiness and success!

I live in Richmond and Sally Bell's is the only place where you can get that grandma homecooked from scratch meals and desserts. My gosh it's just that good.

RU-vid: Want to watch this for the 10th time? Me: You bet your buns

Most people: It's real good Me: I don't believe you Sally Bells Wafer Lady: It's real good Me: I'LL TAKE 10!!!

i want the recipe for a potato salad that's worth waiting an hour in line for

The story of the lady with platinum blonde hair missing her mother's potato salad and standing in line to buy Sally Bell's potato salad was touching :-)

OMG! A video on Sally Bell's!! The BEST box lunch! Everything homemade. My standard was the Sally Lun chicken salad roll, double potato salad, caramel cupcake with the deviled egg and cheese wafer. Sheer heaven!! The workers made it special!

Others: Commenting Me: Googling how much a ticket to Virginia is.

"You need this stuff called...gelatine."

Long time ago I worked there on weekends when I was a student at VCU! Sally Bell's is the epitome of all the love that is a huge part of southern cooking. I felt blessed when at the end of the day, I got to pick a cake that didn't sell and take it home!

I just Google Map'ed Sally Bell's from my house. 38 Hours, 2617 miles. I'm seriously considering doing it.

The older gentleman that gave the lady his ticket that was so sweet. I love it!!

Anyone else wanting one of these wonderful ladies to be their second mother?

The bread. Gorgeous.

All these people talking about how it's like their mother or grandmother's cooking. Allot of people don't realize how they'll miss that home cooking till it's gone.

"If ya lied to me we'll argue about it later" LMAO

some chill oldschool southern ladies making everyone some tasty lunches. I want to try the food!

man those buns looked fucking perfect.

I pray Sally Bell's is surviving the shutdown! So many businesses passed down in families for generations have had to shut down. Its already sad but thinking about that possibility with this place breaks my heart!

I think it's nice to see down to earth people working and serving their fellow neighbors. I pray this business remains in business during this crazy time.

This is what America is all about. Community, Heart, Entrepreneurship, Quality. We need more establishments like this.

"I'm gonna wait an hour here for the potato salad." With a huge smile on his face, this is what home-made culinary dreams are made of!

I've lived in the Richmond area most of my life... Never heard of this place before. Gonna give it a go!

I've watched this video numerous times and it always leaves me with a warm, nostalgic feeling! The food looks amazing and the people, friendly! I hope I get to try Sally Bell's one day! 😊

Am feeling the community love all the way over here

The world needs more of these places

Let's be honest, the little old black ladies sold this place

How lovely to see people treat each other with respect & they are happy to wait! 😀

I've lived in Richmond most of my life and never knew about this place. Thanks for the introduction!

Forget the buddhist monks, these people absolutely embody Zen

"And I think it's comforting when something doesnt change." Yes exactly

I'm a San Francisco kid with southern roots, and this is literally bringing tears of nostalgia to my eyes. Good ol' comfort food will get you every time...

I completely understand crying over deviled eggs or lack thereof

These people have pride in what they do. They look like they look forward to working everyday.

When the kitchen and the staff looks like that, watch out, you gonna come back for some more.

I love the mood of everyone working there. They talk so peacefully.

Because of this video my husband and I traveled to Richmond. The W. Broad staff was very friendly and we enjoyed our box lunches very much.

As a Richmond native I’m happy there’s food from our city on RU-vid for food 😭 I always see New York or LA

Visited there earlier today. They moved to a new location my guess being they blew up after this video aired. I got a roast beef sandwich lunch box with a Chocolate Chocolate cupcake and devil egg. Everything was absolutely delicious. I even got to try this famous potato salad and it was everything that people raved about. The key is that made from scratch mayo that they use for all their sandwiches and salads

I really love how they kept the family traditions of so many generations working there. It shows how much love and care is put in to their work and the environment around there. Very special place

Good video. It's nice to know that these mom and pop stores still exist. It's also good to see them employing people of all different colors.

This is the chillest box lunch store I've ever seen. It's that small town quaint.

They need to open this store all throughout the south. We gotcha!

This is the type of place we all need to strive to support.

Fast food ruined all the places to eat where I live. Sure miss places like this.

I would happy trade my office job to work there. Friendly folk who have skill and pride and get along with each other.

I started coming to Sally Bell's when I was a child in the 1960s. My mother would drag me downtown to shop at the Thalhimers and Miller & Rhoads department stores (there were no suburban malls - they didn't exist), and as a reward for my good behavior we'd swing by Sally Bell's for a box lunch. It didn't take long for me to look forward to shopping. Years later I worked across the street for a few years. At lunch time I'd walk across Grace Street for a box lunch with a caramel cupcake; you had to get there by 11:30 or so or risk the caramel cupcakes being sold out. For those who've inquired, in COVID-world Sally Bell's business is greatly reduced. Those sweet little ladies have been furloughed for many months and the business has been operating with a small staff of what appears to be college-age students. As of May 2021, the Grace Street store was sold to VCU and at the new Broad Street location they still are not allowing customers inside but are taking phone and on-line orders and deliver to customer cars in their rear parking lot. I hope they can weather this storm; it must be very difficult financially.

My mom is from Norfolk, but hearing their accents just made me think about her. She's going through dementia, so this really made me feel at home. :) I have never visited Virginia. But now that I see this restaurant I'll have a reason to do so!

"He's pretty much our everything" 💚

I hope their paid very well for the work they do

2023…I’ve watched this video many times and having one of their box lunches is on my bucket list. I’m hoping that I can visit the USA this spring and have one! What a great place!

I'm amazed at how slowly and patiently they work. Each item is prepared so carefully..

Awwwww! It's like a kitchen full of mom's and granma's! :D

I love that black lady. She just described everything as "Reaal tasty!" Haha

1. I want to hug this lady 2. I need the soul food she's selling mine's weary and needs a boost.

Greetings from Australia!! Oh, I hope you're still open!! I so gonna visit when I go for a holiday in the USA!

I luv the sound of ranidrops on an umbrella.

I looked at the website to see the prices. They must do a lot of volume to pay that large staff of people. Prices are very reasonable, almost cheap for some items in my opinion.

I have no idea how this popped up on my RU-vid feed. I'm so glad it did. I grew up in Birmingham. I love when traditional foods like this are so appreciated. And what a huge compliment to this place, that people consider this as good as their mother's or grandmother's. Now, I'm hungry.😁

This man knows how the food suppose to sound Official

I absolutely adore this place and the people in it! these types of places need to continue they can really be hearts of communities.

What a beautiful work relationship. The way she talks about her employees is heartwarming.

I’m a regular at Sally Bells and I never get tired of the box lunches. The ingredients are so simple yet there’s a homey feel to it that I never get tired of. The cupcakes are the best part

It's literally just a restaurant run by grandma's and it's amazing.

It beats the hell out of a # 2 combo at McDonalds. Period.

Billy said you can hear the sound!!! Now that's somebody I want cooking my food he knows what it sounds like to make it right!

This is old Virginia. The dialects, the food, the fashion, the interior of the place. This is a true treasure to see. I thought these kinda places were dying out.

Just love this story. ! Supporting the community and community supporting them. Wish I could get one of those lunch boxes. :)

LOVE places like this! Always feels great to buy local and support your neighbors.

"she cried for a deviled egg" me*

Made with 💕And you know it's good whenever everyone stays in line waiting patiently and are kind to everyone in line.

I live here and have been to this restaurant several times. The women in there are the sweetest and the food is amazing 🤤 15/10 would totally recommend