Easter tradition: Standing in line at Wilmington's Delaware Provision Co.

Standing in line at Delaware Provision Company, Inc. in Wilmington’s Browntown neighborhood is a longtime Delaware tradition.

Customers, especially those of Polish heritage, travel here in the days before Easter for their holiday food must-haves: Homemade fresh and smoked kielbasa, stuffed cabbage known as golabki, sauerkraut, a blood sausage known as holiday kiszka and puffy loaves of babka.

The Delaware Provision Co. has been owned by Sam and Kathleen Lavery since 1971. They provided wholesale meats, provisions, and other staples to delis, grocery chains, and restaurants. In 1980, they bought out the Barczewski Bros. sausage business, where they had specialized in various sausage products, but mainly polish sausage known as kielbasa.

In recent years, Chef Billy Hayes has added a catering business in addition to the sausage business. He also makes custom sausage products for hunters during the hunting season, mainly with venison.

Just so you know, this is not a business that hides in plain sight. You really have to know where you’re going. Finding the tucked-away warehouse at 318 Eighth Ave. can be like going on a treasure hunt. Customers have to navigate winding one-way streets to get to the good stuff.

The Delaware Provision Co. is open Friday until 5 p.m., and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Queue up early. Call (302) 429-0220 for more information or visit its Facebook page.