Owner of Cravings Specialty Store & Deli Passes the Reins

Dan Robinson, the owner of downtown Tuscaloosa's Cravings specialty store and deli, is stepping away from the business, he announced Wednesday.

In an interview on the Steve Shannon Morning Show on 95.3 the Bear, Robinson said that he was handing over control of the store to Craig Williams, who owns and operates Avenue Pub and Central Mesa, and Daniel McCallum from the Strip's Bear Trap.

"I've basically been a one-man show," Robinson said. "It's been seven days a week, 80 to 120 hours a week... But I really wanted to find somebody that I knew would be a good fit."

Robinson took time to reflect on the work he's put into his creating his menu, and mentioned how once he's gone, it will be possible to expand the menu to include more deli sandwiches and hot meals.

Cravings has been operating on University Boulevard downtown for just over five and a half years, and Robinson said the new owners intend to keep the style, atmosphere, and menu mostly the same.

"The plan is to continue Cravings as we know it," Robinson said. "The only thing that's not gonna be there is the pizza. That's the only thing I was not willing to give away."

Robinson said he hopes to open up a new venture to sell his pizzas sometime in the future, but for now, the entrepreneur plans to take some time to focus on his physical and mental health,

"It's been a really hard decision... I've built this from the ground up. I felt it was better for me to really concentrate on myself for the next six months," Robinson concluded. "I feel really positive about what's to come."