Salt + Light, a restaurant born from a popular Huntsville food trailer, reopened the kitchen at 11243 Memorial Parkway in late May, bringing affordable daily dining back to a storefront that sat vacant for five years after Edith Ann’s Taste of Home Diner closed in 2021.
From trailer to storefront
Owners and operators Chris and Robin Amesbury expanded into the brick-and-mortar space after building a following with their Salt + Light trailer. The move allowed the couple to broaden the menu substantially: where the trailer often offered two choices per service, the new restaurant serves nine menu items along with a handful of upgraded entrées.
“We knew we had big shoes to fill here in this spot,” Chris Amesbury said, noting the longtime community ties of the building’s previous operator, Lee McGucken.
Edith Ann’s was known for breakfast and neighborhood familiarity. The Amesburys said many customers referenced their connection to the former diner as they settled into the new space, and the reopening has brought a steady stream of diners who appreciate both the food and the restored neighborhood gathering place.
Menu, prices and what to expect
The kitchen now turns out a variety of sandwiches, tacos and entrees, with most items priced to appeal to budget-conscious diners:
- Sandwiches include options such as the “Roast Beast,” a shrimp po’boy, pesto chicken and a burger called the “Fat Nasty.”
- Tacos and other handhelds are offered alongside daily entrée choices.
- Most menu items range from $5 to $14, with select upgrades such as a steak priced at $22.
Below is a sample of the menu structure and price bands as the restaurant settles into its first full summer in operation.
| Category | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Handhelds & sandwiches | $5–$14 |
| Entrées / upgraded items | Up to $22 |
| Menu size (initial) | 9 items |
Neighborhood impact
South Huntsville residents gain another affordable dining option in a familiar location. The reopening also returns activity to a building that had been dormant since 2021, supporting foot traffic along Memorial Parkway and contributing to the area’s growing culinary scene.
For residents, Salt + Light offers quick, inexpensive lunches and dinners that reflect the owners’ trailer roots while taking advantage of a full kitchen to expand choices. As the Amesburys build regular hours and a local following, the restaurant may become a regular stop for neighborhood families, workers and longtime patrons of the former diner.
City food-watchers and diners looking for affordable summer options can visit Salt + Light in south Huntsville and see how the new operation fits into the corridor’s evolving restaurant mix.
