Baltimore might be 958 miles from Miami, but that hasn't stopped a small business owner from bringing some South Beach flair to downtown. South Beach Sandwicherie opened last month in the 222 E. Saratoga Street apartment complex .
Co-owner Adam Gardner says he took the concept from a friend who owns a sandwich shop in Miami, where Gardner lived for six years.
In the sun-soaked, palm-tree lined city, sandwich shops offer a salad on a sandwich, a tasty trend Gardner has duplicated at his Baltimore store. South Beach Sandwicherie offers a host of salad toppings for every sandwich: lettuce, cucumbers, green peppers, olives, onions and cornichons, just to name a few.
Sandwiches are topped with a French vinaigrette dressing whose ingredients Gardner holds close to the vest. "I learned [the recipe] from a French guy but I added my own twist to it," he says. "It's all about the secret sauce and the bread."
South Beach Sandwicherie offers a choice of croissant, baguette or wheat bread. Sandwiches cost between $6.50 and $8.95, for a prosciutto and mozzarella � the store's specialty. The shop also sells smoothies.
Gardner likes the location because he can count on steady daytime traffic from workers at Mercy Medical Center, the courthouses, government and office buildings. South Beach Sandwicherie has also carved a niche as a late-night munchie spot for the club crowd and late-night workers. Open until 2 a.m. Thursdays, and 4 a.m. Friday and Saturday, the store gets business from folks going to Sonar and the bars at Power Plant Live, as well as hospital workers on the late shift.
Gardner and his two partners Keith Showstack and Lydell Owens invested $50,000 to open the 800 square foot store. "It's taken off a lot better than I expected," Gardner says.
The shop features paintings on the wall depicting Miami's Art Deco buildings that fill South Beach. Baltimore graffiti artist Billy Mode painted the artworks.
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Source: Adam Gardner, South Beach Sandwicherie
Writer: Julekha Dash