A staple Valley sandwich shop is expanding into downtown Phoenix, celebrating its grand opening Friday.
The Cheba Hut, a toasted sub shop that originally opened in Tempe in 1998, now operates five other locations in Arizona and has since grown to operate in six other states as well, including California, Colorado, New Mexico and Oregon.
The downtown sub shop, which is next door to Mother Brunch Brewing at 825 N. 7th Street, will ring in its new location with an all-day celebration, and free 4-inch “nug” sandwiches and $3 drink specials will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The restaurant chain is known for its marijuana-themed food item names. The company claims it has been “curing munchies” since it first opened on its website.
Dorian “DJ” Lenz, co-owner and manager of all Arizona locations, said the restaurant will be raffling off several prizes including two bicycles with the Cheba Hut logo, items from local breweries like SanTan Brewing Company, a glass pipe from Bud’s Glass Joint and other Cheba Hut swag.
All proceeds from the raffle will go to Valley Youth Theatre, according to Lenz. He manages the Arizona locations alongside his father, also named Dorian Lenz.
This location will have its own local feel, but will run no differently than any other location. One point of differentiation unique to each location, though, is the secret stash menu.
Each location has its own secret stash menu, which features items that are not explicitly on the menu. Currently, the downtown Phoenix location’s secret stash includes the T-Rex sandwich and Green Crack sandwich, both of which have the possibility of being put on the permanent menu.
Some people who have not been to Cheba Hut may be apprehensive about the stoner culture the restaurant alludes to, but don’t let the puns fool you. Lenz said Cheba serves a wide range of customers.
“It’s kind of becoming a rite of passage,” Lenz said. “During the day we get more business people and toward the night we see more of hipsters and locals.”
Cheba Hut tries to work with other local businesses at each of its locations, according to Lenz. In addition to donating the lottery proceeds to Valley Youth Theatre, the restaurant regularly features local beers at all of its locations.
Before working at the new location, bartender Evan Ratley had never eaten at Cheba Hut before.
“It’s a great place for people to come and not worry about anything,” Ratley said.
The new location fills one of the former spaces of the historic Bayless market. Lenz and his father chose this location after looking at a couple of others with their managing partner Josh Willett over the past year.
The downtown Phoenix Cheba Hut had a soft opening on Sept. 6, but waited to have its grand opening, which coincides with October’s First Friday. Lenz expects the line of customers to be out the door on grand opening day.
“People know Cheba Hut and have high expectations of Cheba,” Lenz said. “We’ve been making sure everything is ready.”
Contact the reporter at chelsea.shannon@asu.edu
