By MOLLIE BROWN / Business Columnist

My Peeps owners, Mike and Jan Sherwood, say they have “the best sliders and dogs in the South.” Mike previously owned Michael J’s Deli and Tasty Hot Dog Hut in Alabaster. He “officially” returned to the restaurant business Aug. 1 after spending the past six years working in other fields.

“I closed Michael J’s in 2006 and worked as an auctioneer, then worked for a security business,” he said. “My heart’s always been in the restaurant business. Both Michael J’s and Tasty Dog were purchased businesses, but I’ve built My Peeps with a different concept of anything around here.”

A slider peep is a small sandwich of chicken, beef or sausage on a fresh baked roll, chicken cordon blue, bacon cheddar, chili cheese or locally famous Arnone sausage. Slider sauces include: tiger hot, parmesan garlic, mango tango, Memphis BBQ and chipotle mayo.

Mike’s custom hot dog sauce has a Coney Island flavor, a little on the spicy side. Anything you can top a dog with is on the menu.

New to the area are speidies, which originated in the late 1920’s near Mike’s childhood hometown, Broome County, N.Y. The sandwich meat, beef or pork, is marinated three days and served on French bread.

Mike and Jan met when he owned Michael J’s Deli, which was located across the street from Jan’s dance studio, Southern Dance Arts, on Shelby County 11.

“I would go over for lunch and go back to work three hours later because we enjoyed talking,” Jan said. “We became good friends and got married two years ago.”

Mike and Jan have three sons, two daughters and five grandchildren. Their daughter, Alyssa, helps run the business when Jan is at the studio.

“We named the restaurant My Peeps because not only is it a legacy for our children, but our friends and customers are our people, our peeps,” Mike said. “Mi casa es su casa.”

My Peeps, a take-out restaurant, is located at 1207-B First St. N. in Alabaster, next to Hakkaido. Business hours are Monday through Friday 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. Walk-in or order by phone, 663-2050. Friend them on Facebook, Mikeandjan Mypeeps Sherwood.

 

Mollie Brown is a business columnist for the Shelby County Reporter. She can be reached at dmjhb1@bellsouth.net.