CityView Magazine

38 | November/December 2015 Photography by Sharilyn Wells business Dee Hodges delivers delicious boxed meals BY JAMES JOHNSON AN Undefeated Boxer D ee Hodges, owner of Fay- etteville catering business, By Special Request, doesn't like to discuss age. People like to make assumptions about people of a certain age and af- ter 28 years of defying expectations by maintaining a small business entirely by herself in an unpredictable economy, Hodges has found that it is better to show than tell. The "telling," Hodges said, is typically handled by her clients. "It's grown almost entirely from word of mouth," said Hodges, a na- tive of Aurora, Illinois. "It is still word of mouth, even now. Some- times I won't hear from a customer for six or seven years and then out of nowhere, I get a call from them when they need something. People remem- ber good service." Hodges' catering business might not be what one imagines when pic- turing a caterer. Hodges cooks eve- rything in her own home's commer- cial kitchen and delivers pre-ordered box meals to her customers, already made and then leaves. "I've found that people find it very awkward if someone is in the kitchen waiting for them to finish eating," Hodges said. "No one likes that. If I have items I need to retrieve, I will simply come back later, or even the next day." Hodges box menus come in a wide variety and according to her, meet most dietary needs. Among the choices are boxes that come with sandwiches, almond and crumb- coated boneless chicken breast, a variety of salads, including orien- tal shrimp salad, sliced homemade meatloaf and even children's boxes, with chicken nuggets, carrot sticks and dessert. On average a box will cost about $13 with a $15 fee for de- liveries within Fayetteville. Since 1987, Hodges has catered business meetings, large events, par- ties and even provided dinners for Dee's famous box lunches come in two layers of Southern goodness

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