People from the Playground: De-De Bailey
Here in Ohio's Largest Playground, it's truly our people who make our place!
With our People From the Playground blog series we aim to shine a spotlight on just a handful of the wonderful personalities that make our fun-filled corner of the Buckeye State so special.
In this installment, we had a chance to chat with De-De Bailey, Group Event Coordinator for Lebanon's iconic Golden Lamb Restaurant & Hotel. A 40+ year fixture on the Golden Lamb staff, Bailey shared with us some behind the scenes scoop from the legendary Lebanon establishment!
Warren County has a rich history, and The Golden Lamb has been at the heart of that for so long. How do you see the connection between the restaurant and hotel and the wider community here in the county?
You know, Lebanon was founded in 1802 and The Golden Lamb was founded in 1803, so we really did grow up together in a way. So many businesses these days are only around for a few years, maybe a few decades, but we're more than 200 years in and I think that's really special.
Do you have any favorite stories or memories from your time at The Golden Lamb that stand out?
My favorite story would probably be when President George W. Bush visited for a campaign rally in 2004. He was the 12th U.S. President to pay us a visit. He didn't eat with us, but he toured the building and heard a lot of the stories that we have. Of course, we had to charge him full price for the cost of shutting down for the day, and the owner thought we should have charged more than we did.
We also once had Kesha visit us. She had heard that the building is supposed to be haunted and was hoping to find some ghosts. I've worked here for 47 years — if there were ghosts here, I think I would have bumped into one by now, but who knows?
Helping to run such a historic establishment must come with its own unique set of challenges. What’s been one of the most rewarding aspects of managing such a beloved business for so long?
The people - both employees and the customers who come here. Both that and just being a part of this community. I’m also on the board of the Chamber of Commerce, so it’s rewarding to get recognized for my work here at the Golden Lamb. It just makes you feel good.
The Golden Lamb has such a rich history as Ohio's oldest continually run business. How has working at such an iconic place shaped your perspective on hospitality and customer service over the years?
It’s given me greater compassion. You know, I’m constantly working with people on the phone and in person, so you get a real keen sense of hospitality working in this industry. I try to treat people the way I would like to be treated, and give them quick and efficient service. I really just love putting a smile on people's faces.
If someone were visiting the Golden Lamb (and the city of Lebanon) for the first time, what would you recommend they experience?
Here at The Golden Lamb, your experience isn't complete without a delicious meal and some time spent exploring the building to hear about our history. I always recommend exploring Downtown Lebanon as well. The Harmon Museum just down the street has some really remarkable artifacts and exhibits. I'm also originally from Waynesville, so I still love to spend a day up there exploring all of their wonderful shops.
When you aren’t welcoming guests at the Golden Lamb where might we find you spending time around Warren County? What other Warren County highlights would you recommend to visitors?
My family and I love to go boating at Caesar Creek State Park. I also enjoy going to La Comedia (Dinner Theatre) for the full experience of enjoying a play and a meal. My family is actually in the harness business as well, so we like to go out to Miami Valley Gaming and catch the harness racing.
If you could only eat one item off the Golden Lamb menu for the rest of your life what would you pick?
Tt has to be the fried chicken! You know, there's actually a story that Harlan Sanders based his recipe off of ours! He visited the Golden Lamb just a short time before opening KFC and asked our Chef Sims for the recipe. Apparently he made a habit of asking for chicken recipes whenever he found a really good one.