Industry vets take over management at Head’s Store at St. Albans

A group of industry vets have quietly stepped into a couple projects in recent months Head’s Store at St. Albans and Macklind Avenue Deli. Ices Plain & Fancy co-owner Max Crask, Cafe Provencal owner Eddie Neill, former Sugarfire Smokehouse pit master Casey Jovick and partner Rob Nunnally began managing Macklind Avenue Deli in March and recently teamed up to revamp Head’s Store in St. Albans at 3516 Saint Albans Road.

The Head’s Store, part of the Inns at St. Albans, was formerly a seasonal affair, but Crask said the intention is to turn it into a year-round venture. The lunch menu now features burgers and sandwiches made with Macklind Avenue Deli meats. The restaurant recently began dinner service, where mains are ordered individual then sides are served family style. The space also now has an Ices Plain & Fancy location, dubbed The Ices Plain & Fancy Scoop Shop, offering 12 flavors.

“It’s basically me and Eddie cooking out there, which has been pretty fun,” Crask said.

Crask said the group is managing Macklind Avenue Deli for owner Dick Krekeler as he transitions into retirement.

“All meats are smoked in-house,” Crask said, including pastrami, turkey and ham. The store is also doing daily barbecue, supervised by Jovick, who’s running the operation onsite. There’s also a focus on craft beers, especially local ones.

“We probably have the best selection of local beers,” Crask said. “Dick did a lot with craft beer before you could get it at Schnucks. He was really ahead of the curve with it.”

Matt Sorrell is staff writer at Sauce Magazine.