Judy Souza – Still Creating Masterpiece Sandwiches at the Flournoy Country Store and Deli

Judy is famous for the generous portions in her sandwiches, salads and crowd-pleasing charcuterie boards.

Spring in Tehama County is a lovely time for day trips, and May is a good month to enjoy a leisurely drive to the Yolla Bolly Mountains via Paskenta Road. Along the route, Yuri Souza, affectionately known in the area as “Judy,” is ready at the Flournoy Country Store and Deli to help make your day extra memorable. While you’re there, make sure to meet one of the regulars. They’ll tell you everyone who lives in Flournoy has an interesting story, including Judy.

In 2004, Judy’s husband, Alfred, visited the area with his friends. On their way home, they stopped for snacks at a quaint, red and white store, which also serves as the Flournoy post office. Judy says, “Alfred’s friends jokingly asked the owner if the place was for sale because ‘Alfred wants to buy it.’ The owner said it was for sale and Alfred did decide to buy it.”

This decision was a shock for Judy who had never heard of Flournoy. The couple and their three young daughters, Thalia, Miranda and Laila, had just moved into their newly constructed home in Aromas and Alfred had a great job working in San Jose as a project manager for a big construction company. Judy thought the family had settled for good.

Stepping back in time for a major life change

In fast order, however, the Souzas pulled up roots and Judy  had traded her new house for a single bedroom with no closet, stepping back in time to move to the 1906 store and post office. Judy did what she does best and got to work. While Alfred began remodeling and adding a restaurant, Judy learned how to operate the post office and store. A year later they opened the restaurant, featuring the now-famous Belly Buster Burger,  a 10-ounce handmade beef patty with fresh produce. Meanwhile the girls were growing up and enjoying their schooling at the Flournoy School—a treasured little school on the prairie.

In 2017, Judy’s family decided to close the restaurant after noticing a mysterious decline in Alfred’s health. Two years later, doctors diagnosed Alfred with  a brain tumor that had been slowly growing for about ten years. After his surgery it was apparent that Judy’s “hobbies” at the store would now need to be their sole source of income. Once again she would do what she does best — get to work.

Working hard has been a theme in Judy’s life. She was raised in Mexico for her first 15 years before moving to the United States. After meeting Alfred, he helped her learn English and Portuguese. They have been together now for 32 years, staying committed and adapting through many changes.

The birth of the masterpiece sandwiches

With Alfred’s setback, and at a new place along their journey, Judy felt like it was a good time to start making what Alfred had called her “masterpiece sandwiches” back when they were living in Aromas. Every Sunday they would buy fixings at the Aromas Market and Judy would assemble the sandwiches at home.

Now she offers those same sandwiches with fresh ingredients and generous portions at her deli. Alfred goes daily to pick up the freshly baked bread from SAV-MOR in Corning while Judy runs the post office, the store and the deli. Judy says it’s possible to make those great sandwiches and keep everything else running because, “Everybody is patient and understanding. Flournoy has a different pace than the rest of the world. It reminds me of the more laid back atmosphere in Mexico.”

Judy has given fun names to the items on her menu and every day there is a competition between two of the sandwiches, “When Pigs Fly” and “When Pigs Don’t Fly,” to see which one has the most requests. Judy also has her regulars, including the Tuesday quilters on their way to Paskenta, whose sandwiches can usually be good for two meals; and employees from PG&E, SAV-MOR and Corning Ford. Regulars get their favorite sandwiches written on the “Wall of Fame.” Also popular are Judy’s salads, the infused Red Bulls and a variety of fresh desserts.

Wade and Kase Durant love to greet customers at the store and tell them how great it is to grow up in Flournoy.

Working hard to get the store back how it used to be

Judy wants to thank everyone for “their patience and support as we work hard to get the store back to how it used to be.” She is committed to maintaining the 17-year-old free library, a free DVD exchange,  and a secondhand corner as well as candles, lamps and succulents for sale.

Even though the move to Flournoy was initially hard, Judy says she is thankful because “The Flournoy School molded our kids into who they have become.” Judy is also thankful that her stepchildren, Justin and Teresa, and her four grandchildren, enjoy their visits to the store and the rural community.

Alfred and Judy’s daughters have been a big help over the years and are now on their own to pursue education and careers. Miranda attended the University of Pennsylvania on a full scholarship and will soon begin work as an archaeologist. Thalia attended the University of Fairbanks and studied natural resource management. Laila graduated with a focus in creative writing from Queens in Charlotte, North Carolina and will be starting work on a M.A in English at Chico State University.

May is a perfect month to visit the Flournoy Country Store and Deli, and to meet Judy Souza, a woman who has invested 19 years of hard work in the community of Flournoy. One (or two) of her fresh sandwiches will be perfect for a picnic in the mountains, with some left over for the ride home. The store is open Monday-Saturday, 8am-6pm, and is located at 16140 Paskenta Road in Flournoy. In early May, Judy and Alfred are attending Laila’s college graduation and will be back in time for Mother’s Day. Call 530-833-5305 to order ahead.