Comments on: Remembering the Raleigh Sandwich Shop

By: Al

Al — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:22:03 +0000

I ate many hot dogs from the Sandwich Shop in the 60′s. My brother and I spent most Saturday’s in downtown Raleigh, and we always ate lunch there.

By: Leigh

Leigh — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:26:33 +0000

What a gem in the rough. I hope it gets restored.

By: Robert E Leebowitz

Robert E Leebowitz — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:29:44 +0000

I believe Mr. Capetanos often wore a gun while behind the counter and when WRAL began following sanitation grades at restaurants, they reported Raleigh Sandwich getting a C grade because someone poured a bucket of mop water over a strainer full of lettuce in the sink.

By: John

John — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:55:40 +0000

When talking with Shalom (of Isaac’s Menswear) for the article I did last month, he told me what kind of place Wilmington Street in the 80s–often rough and seedy. He said that frequently there were riff raff of various sorts that would wander in to the Sandwich Shop, and Mrs. Capetanos would chase them out in to the street while swinging a baseball bat at them. Evidently she didn’t put up with one ounce of trouble in the shop.

By: Raleigh Boy

Raleigh Boy — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:31:33 +0000

Thanks for that info REL! I thought those stools didn’t look like the ones I remember: I think the originals were the bolted-to-floor type. And I think I remember the original lunch counter as one of those U-shaped types. But man, that’s been so long ago! I gotta get in there and check it out.
I do remember George’s in Cameron Village>> used to go in there a lot. But here’s one for ya: Do you remember George’s in its first location back in the early ’70s, before Cam Vill? It was on the ground floor of the Odd Fellows Building @ the corner of Hargett + Salisbury!

By: Robert E Leebowitz

Robert E Leebowitz — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:00:35 +0000

Those stools, the “photo booth” sign and the bar/counter in the space aren’t original, they’re fixtures for the renovation. From what I hear, it will continue to be a sandwich shop but with better beers (than the 40′s they served before closing) and a better sanitation grade. Dixie Grill might be a good comparison – I hope. And as for missing the casual lunch counters: how about George’s Luncheonette at Cameron Village and the luncheonette in the Cameron Village Post Office. You could get a PB&J and a can of soup and a sweet tea for something like $3.50. And Steelcity36: sandwiches are timeless! Learn how to spell!

By: steelcity36

steelcity36 — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:56:40 +0000

Sandwichs are so 1978! Wraps are the future.

By: Ben

Ben — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:49:13 +0000

Great post. Has there already been a post on the Roast Grill? If not, that should be next. Who knows how long that place will be around?

By: Raleigh Boy

Raleigh Boy — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:03:10 +0000

I agree RaleighRob! The thing these old time places have that most newer establishments don’t, is ambience and charm. Cooper’s Barbecue, The Mecca and the Roast Grill are good examples.
A number of years ago I was in Wilmington and stopped in at the Dixie Grill on Market St. It was a long-time downtown establishment and reminded me very much of the Raleigh Sandwich Shop. On my next trip back to Wilmington I made a point of returning to the Dixie Grill and discovered they had “upgraded” along the lines you describe. At first I was disappointed, but it didn’t take long to realize they had retained the old time essence of the place, much to their credit. I ordered a pimento cheese sandwich– on whole wheat!

By: RaleighRob

RaleighRob — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:27:09 +0000

It is a shame these casual, inexpensive lunch counter type places around downtown are closing often.
I think what the business community needs to realize is that this is not because there isn’t a demand for inexpensive casual food in downtown….far from it. But tastes change, and people are eating more healthy than the traditional “greasy spoon diners”. If these casual sandwich shoppes can offer more modern and healthy food (whole wheat bread, vegetarian options, varied flavors, etc) then more of them will survive.