Written by Steven Chandler
“I think we serve more than sandwiches: we serve a whole experience with the design concept, the ordering system and just the wiches themselves,” Which Wich owner Don Rummel said.
On March 9, Which Wich opened its doors to Searcy. Which Wich is a sandwich shop with a unique ordering system and atmosphere that is anticipating to be a big hit in this college town.
“It’s got a whole new environment that Searcy needs, a whole new atmosphere,” Which Wich employee and Harding senior Ben Darby said.
According to Rummel, probably the most unique feature about Which Wich is the ordering system. Which Wich lets the customers make out their order so they know that it was placed correctly.
There are brown paper bags to choose from that represent a type of sandwich. After picking the bag that corresponds to the sandwich, also known as a “wich,” a customer wants, they simply fill in the bubbles with the provided Sharpie pens to show what bread, cheese and toppings they want. The customer takes the bag with their name on it to the register, pays for the order, and then waits for the order to be called.
Once an order is ready, it is put in the bag that ordered it. Also, after the customer finishes their meal they can draw on the bag and hang it on a wall in the back where anyone can display brown bag art.
“The name of it—it’s Which Wich Superior Sandwiches,” employee and Harding junior Caleb Rummel said. “The whole thing is trying to make every part of it better, trying to get the best ingredients and the best service.”
While Which Wich is a relatively young franchise, it has gained some noticeable recognition. It was started in 2003 in Dallas with the Searcy store marking the franchise’s 104th store. Which Wich was selected as one of the six winners for the 2007 Hot Concepts! winners by Nation’s Restaurant News, an industry trade magazine.
“I think Which Wich is an awesome addition to Searcy,” junior Seth Bowden said. “The food and prices can’t be beat and the staff is very helpful and friendly. I definitely appreciate the variety at Which Wich; there is a sandwich for everyone.”
Which Wich carries a wide variety of wiches, over 50 that the customer can customize to taste. Wich bag categories range from turkey, ham & pork, beef, chicken, seafood, vegetarian, Italian, comforts , classics and Breakfast. There is also a wich called “The Wicked,” the signature sandwich of Which Wich that comes with five meats and three cheeses. All sandwiches are $5.25 except for The Wicked which is $6.25.
“I would tell other people not to be afraid to step out of their comfort zone and try a wich you wouldn’t normally pick,” Bowden said. “I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.”
In addition to their wiches, Which Wich provides chips, cookies, Coca-Cola brand soft drinks and hand-dipped milkshakes.
“The chicken pesto sandwich was delicious and is now my new favorite sandwich,” junior Macye Dean said. “But of course, I can’t forget the chocolate milkshake, which was fantastic too.”
Which Wich is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. They also plan to stay open late after both Friday and Saturday night performances of Spring Sing. It is located at 3511 East Race Ave., Suite 200 between GameStop and Shoe Department. If you want to know more about Which Wich before your visit, you can visit their website at www.whichwich.com.
“Now that we have a Which Wich, we are a college town,” a Harding student told Owner Don Rummel.
