Wally and his two sisters grew up in the business, even living behind the service station for a while, until the elder Conklins could build a home. Through the growth of DeLand and the advent of fast food and national franchise restaurants, Wally and Julie's has hung on. Conklin attributes that to the consistency and personalization. If we don't personalize, I can't compete. Numerous Stetson graduates come back, sometimes with their children and even grandchildren, he said.
Consistency is important both in the customer base and in the way the restaurant is operated.
For example, Conklin said he'd much rather operate a restaurant in DeLand than in a tourist area, where customers may only come once in their lifetime. Those repeat customers and even first-time customers are always rewarded with a warm greeting by Conklin, who greets everyone at their tables. Many regulars frequently eat at a family table, positioned just outside the kitchen entrance. Consistency is important when it comes to service and menu choice variety, he said. New menus are currently underway again.