Photos by Shawn Nowlin
Some restaurant owners brag about providing exceptional customer service and quality food. Eddie Bain and Devon Taylor actually take pride in practicing what they preach.
The two friends currently run Oi Boy Diner, a direct expansion of the Oi Polloi food truck which has been around since 2014 serving area events and breweries. Eddie serves as the Managing Partner while Devon is the owner.
“The name ‘Ol Pollio’ comes from Devon’s deep roots in punk rock music and culture,” Eddie said. “A common phrase used is ‘OI’ which is used as a shout out and chant in the punk rock culture. It comes from Hoi Polloi, which is Greek for ‘the masses’ or “the many.’”
Years before they started this chapter in their life, Eddie and Devon both gained decades of restaurant experience over the years. Devon is a graduate of the Virginia Western Culinary program and Eddie worked as a restaurant manager for nearly eleven years.
Customers can’t be blamed for wanting a variety of options to choose from when they arrive at a diner. Eddie and Devon fully understand that, which is why they offer over a dozen selections in addition to a daily menu special.
“We have a wide variety of lunch options but we are rapidly becoming known for our breakfast, specifically the Chicken N’ Waffles. We are located at 217 6th Street and open Tuesday to Saturday. We also do breakfast through lunch as well as call in and carry out,” Devon said. “We are the only place in Salem where you can get a classic Kenney’s sauce burger and crinkle cut fries.”
A lot of behind the scenes work is required to run Oi Polloi. Devon on what an average week looks like for him: “The days never actually have an end. On average, it consists of waking up and checking messages before responding to emails,” he said. “After that, we assess what needs to be prepared for the diner/food truck for the coming days.” That type of work ethic gives Eddie the utmost confidence to say that the best burgers in Salem can be found at Ol Polloi. “We truly believe that are burgers are second to none,” he said.
Another cool thing about Oi Polloi is that they offer Dr. Enuf, a rare soda beverage. “Devon fell in love with it on a visit to Johnson City, Tennessee. We wanted something not only unique, but delicious! Dr. Enuf had everything we were looking for,” Eddie said.
It’s been said that those who love what they do view life through a certain lens. Even when Devon and Eddie have a bad day, they never lose focus of just how fortunate they are. “We are in a great situation. The best part about running Ol Polloi is our customers and their reactions when they try our food,” Eddie and Devon both said. “But hands down, another great thing about Ol Polloi is having an active role in not only preserving the Virginia famous Kenney’s sauce and history, but introducing newer generations to a beloved piece of local history.”
Life is a story. It’s full of chapters. For Devon Taylor and Eddie Bain, their journey has had its share of highs and lows. “As we continue to grow, we hope to become directly active in the local communities, as well as the local art and music scenes,” Devon said. To put it plainly: these two longtime friends are willing to put in the necessary work to make Oi Polloi a worthwhile success.
