Best of Lawrence Profile: Sandwich Bowl: Small town feel, where everyone is welcome

Editor’s Note: This article is sponsored content produced by the Journal-World’s advertising department. Businesses who received a top three award in the Best of Lawrence competition are eligible to participate in the Best of Lawrence Spotlight Series program, which includes a question-and-answer profile. Look for future profiles in the print and online editions of the Journal-World.

Congratulations on being voted the Best of Lawrence! How does it feel to receive this recognition from the community?

This has been an immense honor. I cried a lot of happy tears. I knew my customers were extremely dedicated to helping us win this year, but I am still in complete disbelief that we swept all our nominated categories. It’s truly incredible. Business has been booming with a staggering number of new customers making their way through the doors! Thank you to everyone that voted. It certainly makes all the long days and nights worth it.

Can you provide a brief overview of your business’s history, including its founding, initial goals and how it has evolved over the years?

We opened our original location in Harlan, Iowa, in 2008. I was attending KU at the time, but came home for the summer to help my dad open it. It was a blast. After the next couple years, I would find myself wanting to go home more often just to eat at the restaurant. We decided that Lawrence needed in on the fun as well, so in 2012, we opened our Lawrence location. We believed Lawrence needed a small mom and pop shop with homemade soups, desserts, and homestyle sandwiches.

Community support is crucial. How do you engage with the local community, and how has this engagement impacted your success?

Over the years, we have established strong bonds with people in the community, many of whom have become close friends. We also promote other local businesses to any and all who come in, even if we are recommending another locally owned restaurant. Supporting local is what keeps us going. It keeps the community strong. You cannot be successful if you don’t support everyone in your community. We wouldn’t be here without them.

Businesses face challenges as well. Can you discuss a significant hurdle your business has overcome and the lessons learned from it?

Well Covid was definitely a challenge. It was undeniably not a good time. There were lots of days and weeks where I didn’t know if the business would survive. The shutdown made us reevaluate what was important to us. We had the lobby closed for 387 days, doing curbside only orders. I did not want to reopen the lobby until all my staff was able to get the second vaccination for not just their safety, but also for those coming into the restaurant. The health of my staff and the customers became the most important thing. We were able to come out of the lockdown better than ever before, seeing progressively increasing numbers every month. Because of all of this, I had to fight to make it work harder than ever and I realized this is where I am supposed to be, doing what I am supposed to be doing.

Are there any upcoming projects, events, or initiatives that you’re excited about and would like the community to know?

Pickle Week November 12th – 16th! This year will mark our 6th Pickle Week to celebrate National Pickle Day. We serve over a dozen of our sandwiches on giant whole pickle “buns”. Also, I will be hosting my free Thanksgiving dinner that is available to everyone in the public on Thanksgiving night with all the traditional dishes and Eileen’s Cookies donates dessert! It is first come first serve and a donation jar is available but its not a requirement. I will have an event page on my Facebook, Sandwich Bowl – Lawrence, for updates for both events.

The Best of Lawrence title often indicates a commitment to excellence in customer service. How do you ensure that every customer has a positive experience with your business?

Customer service is something we pride ourselves on. We want to maintain the small town feel our original location has. We will get to know your name, what you like, any allergies you have, and maybe even your dog’s name or where you went on vacation last summer. We do our best to make you feel like you’re at home and with friends.

Reflecting on your journey, what motivated you to start this business, and how does it feel to see it flourish and earn the Best of Lawrence title?

From the very start of all of this, I wanted a place people could come and feel welcome and wanted. A safe place for everyone to eat good food in an enjoyable environment. Food is what brings us together. It is an unbelievable feeling of pride and gratitude.

What do you believe has been the biggest contributor to your business’s growth and reputation in the Lawrence area?

Without a doubt, the biggest contributor to our business growth is the loyalty and dedication of our customers. I joke that I created a sandwich cult. It is humbling to have so many people trust and love you enough to spend their hard worked for money on the food that you cook.

Reflecting on your experiences, what leadership lessons have you learned that you believe have been instrumental in your business’s success?

Consistency. That is the most important lesson for any business. If you have consistent products, you will have consistent customers. I feel we are extremely successful with providing the same exceptional service and delicious food for every single visit.