Our Story

When we opened The Prime Smokehouse in Rocky Mount, N.C., in 2013, it was quickly regarded as the cornerstone of the downtown commercial and cultural renaissance. The restaurant established a reputation as the region’s top eatery, winning the award for Best Restaurant in Rocky Mount for six consecutive years.

In spite of the acclaim, we were still frustrated. We can’t tell you how many customers would come in wanting something fast and easy – a real challenge for a place featuring meticulously prepared food synonymous with slow cooking.

That was the inspirational spark for NABS Deli and Coffee Shop, a combination East Coast-style deli and singular coffee shop that can quickly cater to the needs of anyone looking to drop in for breakfast or lunch or to take away a meal made from the freshest ingredients.

NABS stands for “Never a Better Sandwich,” but it easily could stand for “Never a Better Soup” or “Never a Better Salad.” Whatever the abbreviation, NABS is always about fresh, handmade dishes and beverages, including house-roasted single-origin Ethiopian coffee, our proprietary tea blends and pastries straight out of the oven.

Unlike chain restaurants that repackage processed ingredients shipped thousands of miles, NABS Deli and Coffee Shop forgoes the cookie-cutter methods. Our handcrafted East Coast-style deli sandwiches can trace their lineage back to Ed’s days of working as a youngster in his family’s lunch truck business in Philadelphia. NABS’ bakers hand fold perfectly leavened dough, making their croissants extra pillowy. We personally roast our coffee beans every day, serving up a traditional brew rooted in a centuries-old Ethiopian tradition. And we expertly curate and combine teas and spices into my own signature blends informed by years of living in Sri Lanka.

Whether you’re looking for an inviting sit-down breakfast or lunch spot in downtown Rocky Mount; are a coffee or tea lover smitten with authentic, inventive or freshly roasted beverages; or a hurried passer-by needing to quickly grab hot soup or a warm pastry, NABS has you covered.

– Yalem Kiros and Ed Wiley