Cliff Murphy III, the third-generation owner of Helen’s Sausage House, stands outside of their Newark location, the first expansion in the popular restaurant’s history. | DBT PHOTO BY JACOB OWENS
NEWARK – Helen’s Sausage House, a popular third-generation family-run breakfast and lunch spot in Smyrna, is set to open its Newark location on Saturday, its first expansion in the restaurant’s history.
Owner Clifford “Cliff” Murphy III, who took over the family business from his father Clifford “Butch” Murphy II last year, said the enthusiasm of local customers convinced him to take the leap.
Helen’s will occupy the former Post House diner at 145 E. Main St. in Newark after it’s most recent tenant, Duck Donuts, closed in 2021. Murphy told Delaware Business Times that the college town was a good fit for the brand well-known for its meaty sandwiches at a low price. It also helped that he lives just a short distance away from the Main Street location.
Helen’s Sausage House will serve up all the favorites, like sausage and pork chops sandwiches at the Newark location. | DBT PHOTO BY JACOB OWENS
Buzz about the new location has Murphy excited, as the public have been peeking in the windows and knocking on the door for the last few weeks.
“I’ve heard some people might camp out and we expect a crowd on Saturday morning of people who have visited the Smyrna store over the years,” he said. “We’re ready; we’re excited.”
The new location will differ from the Smyrna original in a few ways. Its hours will be later and it will accept credit cards for the first time.
While the original is open from 4 a.m. to noon Mondays to Saturdays, catering in part to the early-rising hunters and fishers of the region, the Newark location will serve breakfast and lunch from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day but Sunday. Late-night hours from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays will likely begin in November, Murphy said.
The Newark location had a takeout window installed to serve the late-night patrons.
Helen’s Sausage House will bring its popular double sausage sandwiches north for the hungry UD students. | DBT PHOTO BY JACOB OWENS
“Our night menu is going to be more for our bar patron friends. We’re going to do a limited menu with just a couple sandwiches to serve them,” Murphy said.
The owner is also eyeing the integration of delivery apps like DoorDash and GrubHub to serve the Newark area, although that is not yet operational.
Murphy will personally oversee the launch of the Newark location while his nephew will take over management of the Smyrna location. He’s already hired 12 people in Newark and is still looking to add more staff.
For Murphy, opening the second location is a tribute in ways to his grandmother, Helen (Murphy) Achenbach, who opened the original shop in 1983 and passed away this past summer.
“She definitely always wanted to expand but she was so used to running things and always being at her location that it was hard for her to envision giving anybody else that power. So, it’s nice that I was able to get somebody in the family to do that so that I can step away and do this,” Murphy said. “I think she’d be proud.”
A memorial to the founder and a touch of Elvis Presley, who Achenbach adored and featured prominently in the Smyrna store, is forthcoming to the Newark location, Murphy said.