Neighbors Anne Geis and Jill Sawyer used to walk their dogs around Old Salem and talk about the kind of business they wanted to open. Those discussions would eventually turn into Salem Kitchen — a Winston-Salem institution that’s been open more than 20 years.

“I studied nutrition and restaurant management in college, and then worked for one year,” Geis explains. “I got married and had four kids, which kept me busy. After they were married and moved out, I started to think this could happen.”

The original idea was to provide nutritious box lunches for individuals and companies. “Our goal was always to use the freshest, finest ingredients,” Geis says.

While the first Salem Kitchen was on Country Club Road, it eventually moved to Miller Street when the demand for box lunches and chicken pies skyrocketed.

Nowadays, box lunches remain a huge part of business. Customers can order anything from the Thai chicken wrap to the turkey supreme sandwich, complete with a lemon chess tart or a slice of Salem Kitchen’s famous caramel cake. Although they typically sell between 100 and 200 boxed lunches a day, Geis notes that single-day sales have reached as high as 2,000 before.

Another big part of Salem Kitchen’s business is its Gourmet to Go section. The store’s cases are filled with freshly prepared entrées, sides, salads, and desserts. The offerings are truly a dream for anyone who wants to eat well while saving time. There are more than 50 entrées to choose from, the most popular being the meatloaf, baked spaghetti, and chicken pie. A large chicken pie is $12, a large meatloaf is $11, and a large order of baked spaghetti goes for $6. A delivery option is also available for meals exceeding $50.

The chicken pies are clearly a must-try. Geis says it’s not uncommon to receive more than 500 orders a week for them during the holidays. To help make the pies, Salem Kitchen employs several Moravian women on a part-time basis throughout the year. The pies feature a golden, crunchy crust and rich, creamy filling. It’s a dish that almost everyone can appreciate.

The perfect drink to accompany any of the entrées is the Salem Tea, a concoction made of tea, lemon juice, and pineapple juice, and brewed with cloves and cinnamon. It won’t overpower the meal, but does enhance it, and could almost be a snack on its own.

Another must-try at Salem Kitchen is the locally famous cheese straws, which were recently featured in Garden and Gun — a Southern lifestyle magazine. The straws, made with real butter and sharp cheddar cheese, are hand-pressed by a machine that Geis’ husband designed. The straws are flaky and light with a bit of a kick, perfect for cocktail hours or to give as a hostess gift.

Salem Kitchen also offers catering for parties, weddings, and special dinners. Meals can be customized from filet mignon to chicken picatta to even five-course meals complete with servers. “People don’t realize how high-end much of our food is,” she says.

Walking into Salem Kitchen is like arriving at your grandmother’s house after she has lovingly prepared a meal for you. In fact, many of the recipes come from Geis’ grandmother and other family members.

The kitchen is designed to cater large orders with quickness and precision. Long, stainless-steel tables line the back while staff members work on the periphery, stirring vats of chili and icing cakes. Employees arrive around 7 a.m. to begin compiling the lunch orders for the day. Once they are finished, they start making the Gourmet to Go entrées and filling the pastry racks. If there are any entrées or side items left at the end of the day, they are put in the freezer and sold as frozen meals.

Also, at the front of the store, you’ll find the Corner Shop, which sells items such as April Cornell table linens and North Carolina wines.

As Geis maneuvers deftly around the kitchen, checking on ham biscuits and vegetable trays, she takes a second to reflect on her business. After 20 years, she says she still enjoys coming in to work. “It’s such a fulfilling business, and I really enjoy it,” she says. “I am 77 years old, I love what I do, and I know my customers. I don’t know when I’ll retire.”

Salem Kitchen is at 50 Miller St. It’s open 8:30 a.m.–7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday. For information on meals, catering, and pricing, call 336-722-1155, or go to salemkitchen.com.