Family opens local cafe, deli

By Staff | Oct 14, 2015

Shea Sassaman

The unit at 1219 Homestead Road, located in the shopping center that houses the Save A Lot and the Florida Governmental Utility Authority office, was recently the site of a recruitment center for the U.S. military.

But it moved out two years ago and today, the vacant site, has been turned into one of Lehigh Acres’s exciting new eateries.

The restaurant shouts out with big letters and words on its front: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Takeout and Dine In.

It is the new enterprise of owners Christina “Tina” Sassaman and her son, Shea Sassaman, 25. The restaurant’s is named Two Shea’s Cafe & Deli.

Both Tina and Shea are not strangers to the eatery scene in Lehigh. Both spent several years working for Joe’s Cafe.

MEL TOADVINE Two Shea’s Cafe & Deli recently opened at 1219 Homestead Road. It is a few doors down from the Save A Lot.

“We’re really excited and we’re doing well,” she said. “We serve nothing but the finest foods. It has been our life experience. We use the best of everything. We make everything we serve and we use Boarhead meats, well-known for its quality.”

The restaurant has been open now for about a month and former customers, after hearing the mother and son had opened up their own venue, have been coming in.

“I don’t think I am stealing them,” she laughed. “They just all know us from all those years at Joe’s, which is a good restaurant. We should know for as long as we waited tables and did other things there.”

Another family member who works there is Kendra Newman.

One of the great things about Two Shea’s Cafe & Deli is that it is fresh and new, with a modern decor and comfortable seating with booths and tables.

MEL TOADVINE The family who operates the eatery are, from left, Cristina “Tina” Sassaman, Shea Sassaman and Brittney Tanner.

“We’re open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.” she said. “We can get people in and out of here really fast with great lunches. We know people are busy and that they need to get their food fast and get back to work.

“Well, if they come here, they will get the great quality of meats that we use and out own home-made dishes,” she said proudly. “We make it all ourselves. We make our own cole slaw and all the other things that go with a meal.”

And she should be proud, too, because of the desserts made at the restaurant.

“We have so many choices that we can’t even list them all,” she laughed.

But one in particular seems to light up her eyes. It’s their homemade strawberry short cake with ice cream.

“That’s our signature dessert,” she said. “You can’t beat it.”

This past Friday and Saturday night, they began serving up a special prime rib dinner for $13.95.

“We think it’s will go over great. Our customers seem to really enjoy it,” she said.

Breakfast is served from 8 to 10:30 a.m. with prices starting at $3.75 and that includes an egg, hash browns, home fries or grits and toast.

If you want more, the menu offers eggs served with bacon, ham, sausage links or patties, corned beef hash or with ribeye steak.

They offer an array of specially sandwiches which are served with chips and Boarshead meats, a pickle, fries, onion rings, potato salad, apple sauce or cole slaw.

You tell them how you want it and they will do as asked.

Take-out menus offer a wide variety of items and are available at the cashier’s window.

“Come and dine with us. We think you will enjoy your experience,” both said.

There is plenty of parking, not only in front of the new restaurant, but on the side.

If you are in a hurry at lunch time and need your food fast, just call them at 368-6688 and they will have it ready for takeout by the time you get there.

“Give us a try; I think you will be pleasantly surprised,” he said.

: MEL TOADVINE Two Shea’s Cafe & Deli recently opened at 1219 Homestead Road. It is a few doors down from the Save A Lot.

: MEL TOADVINE The family who operates the eatery are, from left, Cristina “Tina” Sassaman, Shea Sassaman and Brittney Tanner.