One-man delivery service still going in Lincoln

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A local food delivery company says after years of business fluctuations, there’s just one man left.

Dave Welch, owner of Metro Dining Delivery, has been running the company for nearly 18 years.

He works mostly out of his car, which he drives to and from restaurants to make deliveries, and gets all the food orders through his website.

“For the last two years it’s been just me ’cause COVID kind of kicked my butt,” he said. “Restaurants were struggling to make money anyway, so they wound up signing up with DoorDash and Grubhub.”

Welch still works with about 90 restaurants in Lincoln, despite many going to the competition.

Tips are always included in the cost of delivery, and Welch said it’s cheaper to use his service over the big companies.

But he said it’s harder for him to get the word out.

“They have a little bit unfair advantage,” Welch said. “‘Cause when a restaurant signs up with me, I have to wait for the restaurant to add me to their Google listing.”

Part of what makes his business special are the connections he’s made within the community.

“All the restaurants know me,” Welch said. “I know most of the restaurants, the owners and staff, by names. I carry a bag of treats – candies – for the restaurants and for customers, too. They’re always happy to see that. I carry puppy treats for people that have dogs.”

He said despite some tough times, he isn’t giving up.

Welch even hopes to expand soon and bring on more drivers.