Sub Station II / Duke Sandwich Company, 3151 Forest Drive: January 2010 16 comments
I only ate at Duke Sandwich Company, on Forest Drive between Lizard's Thicket and Zesto, once. Frankly, I didn't think it was very good. This was due to several factors. First of all, I have certain expectations from anything calling itself a "sandwich company" and those weren't fufilled. I went in thinking I would probably get some sort of chese sub, maybe with some bacon or salami, and I found the menu almost entirely made up of "spread" type sandwiches that I had no desire to eat. I suppose the name should have tipped me off, but the only "Duke" product I know of was mayonaise, which I figured was ok for a "name" draw, but was not going to figure in the majority of sandwiches. Anyway, the fact was the menu was not at all to my taste, and I ended up with a grilled-chese sandwich which was pretty much processed-american-cheese-food between two slices of Sunbeam.
Second, I drink a lot of tea, and the store setup was the worst sort for that. "Normally" you either have table service and the waitress keeps you topped off, or you have an ice dispenser and tea urns on the restaurant floor so customers can self-top. The day I was there, at least, they had no urns, one *pitcher* of tea on the restaurant floor and no ice machines. That meant that every time I wanted an unsweet refill or ice, I had to go to the counter, which was very annoying. Also, if I recall correctly, my table turned out to be a "wobbler" that sloshed my drink a couple of times before I adjusted.
Anyway, that's a "Ted" centric apprasial (which is all I have..), if you liked deviled-egg sandwiches, perhaps this was your favorite place. In the event, I never went back. I hadn't known the place was closed until AJ mentioned it in "Have Your Say". I don't think it was open more than a year or two.
It looks like the next tenant for the building is already lined up, "Yummy Good -- Fresh Food With A Hip Attitude". I wish them well, as the building has been somewhat ill-starred since it was a Sub Station II and there was a murder there.
UPDATE 4 Feb 2010: Well, looks like Yummy Good won't be moving in, but you can still lease the building.
(Hat tip to commenter AJ)
UPDATE 7 March 2011 -- Look's like it will be Tokyo Grill:
d
UPDATE 3 September 2011 -- Tokyo Grill is open:
UPDATE 32 March 2022: Updating tags and adding map icon.
16 Responses to 'Sub Station II / Duke Sandwich Company, 3151 Forest Drive: January 2010'
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Dennis
1 Feb 10 at 6:05 am
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re: First of all, I have certain expectations from anything calling itself a “sandwich company” and those weren’t fufilled. I went in thinking I would probably get some sort of chese sub, maybe with some bacon or salami, and I found the menu almost entirely made up of “spread” type sandwiches that I had no desire to eat.
I totally agree and Dennis is right too, I was pretty befuddled by their whole concept as yah it would be really hard not to make a better sandwich at home. One of my main gripes was the bread which was bland as could be. If you're a sandwich specialty place and your bread tastes worse than the cheapest options available at any supermarket then I don't know how you can expect to stay in biz.
I will say this though, there aren't many places in town to buy party sandwiches (u know a box of bite sized sandwiches with the crust cut off) and they did fit that need. If anybody knows of a party sandwich place still in biz, please post here.
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This concept is based out of the Upstate from the Duke's Mayonaise family. Duke's has always been a popular mayo in the South and the family started the restaurant to showcase their spread. About 3 or 4 years ago, they tried to really boost their franchisee presences. Like so many concepts that try to franchise, there was a weak infrastructure. In the Greeenville and Anderson area they do well becasue locals associate the restaurant name to the mayonaise but I dont think they capitalized on this relationship when they left the Upstate.
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That location seems to be like one of those Dead Store Walking places. I'm not sure if the memory of that murder keeps people away, or just the way the building and parking is setup.
ChiefDanGeorge
1 Feb 10 at 7:22 pm
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Murder? Don't remember that.
jamie
2 Feb 10 at 8:53 am
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To MikeD:
Try Mathias Sandwich Shop on St. Andrews. I don't promise anything, but I think one of our work events featured finger sandwiches exactly as you described.
Matthew
2 Feb 10 at 9:42 am
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The Duke's name has been in Greenville for over 30 years and their spreads are wildly popular there. However, their concept does not translate to other markets. With that said, the Duke space on Forest Drive is for lease and Yummy Good is not opening there. The Yummy Good signs were taken down. It's a great location, central to Forest Acres, Heathwood, Forest Hills, Springlake and just down the road from Providence Hospital. Spread the word that an ideal location for a restaurant is available!
Lisette
2 Feb 10 at 2:31 pm
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I was wondering why the "For Lease" sign was still up. Too bad!
ted
2 Feb 10 at 2:35 pm
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Is there anyway you can remove the Yummy Good link? It's confusing people? I'm getting emails from people who want to know when Yummy Good is opening but what I'd really like are emails on how people can lease the space. Any help is much appreciated.
Lisette
4 Feb 10 at 2:55 pm
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OK, the link is gone!
ted
4 Feb 10 at 3:54 pm
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It is definitely a Greenville thing. My family is from there we LOVE Duke's sandwiches, although we usually get the prepackaged ones and bring them home ; they can be refrigerated or frozen. And you must grill them -- all of them, not just the pimento cheese. It may sound weird to grill an egg salad sandwich (and some of the others) but it is really good! I won't really miss this location though, because I have family members that bring them to me from Greenville.
Oh, and Jamie, the murder refers to the time when it was Sub Station II. I've kinda forgotten the details, but I think there was an armed robbery in which a restaurant employee was killed.
Allie
10 Feb 10 at 3:17 pm
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I had forgotten about the murder until I read ChiefDanGeorge's post. I believe that occurred in 97 and involved an employee who slashed his manager's throat. I ate there a few times back in 04 and the place had some strange vibes to it. This may explain some things. I recall going in the restroom and seeing dead roaches all over the place one time, not long before SSII closed. That was my last trip to that establishment.
Ray Price
5 May 10 at 2:22 am
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I hear there is something going on here!! I thought you all might know what is going on. I have heard serveral people online saying something is going on here but they want to know what and so here I am as you all seem to know what is coming just as well as closing too!! Thanks!! :o)
Mrs. SK
1 Feb 11 at 12:07 am
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@Mrs. SK, it looks like it will be a Japanese restaurant "Tokyo Grill".
ted
7 Mar 11 at 1:22 am
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The Dukes store up here on Poinsett Highway is great, with prepackaged sandwiches and good soup. When they opened up around the corner from my house in Columbia, I was pretty excited. Until my first visit. The spreads were not as good as Greenville, the tea was average, there was no ice and the service was slow and rude. I gave it another shot and it was as if I stepped into a time machine dialed back to my first visit.
The Dukes up here is still great.
south mauldin
30 May 11 at 4:10 pm
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Do we know the Grand opening date for Tokyo Grill yet?
Angie
27 Jul 11 at 1:59 pm
Even though this location is very convenient for me, and I'm always looking for a new lunch adventure, I ate here exactly twice. Like Ted said, there was absolutely nothing special about the place. All of their sandwiches were exactly the way you would make them yourself at home --- two pieces of plain bread with a wad of goo in the middle.
Wasn't cheap, either. They did have really good potato salad but they priced it like caviar.