By Ron Baxley, Jr,
WILLISTON, SC – Starreatha “Star” Dicks-Perry dreamed of owning her own sandwich shop featuring fresh ingredients and a menu of classic sandwiches. Her inspiration began during her teens, as an employee of the Sub Deli, a long-closed, local restaurant whose location is the site of the current buffet restaurant Meeting on Main, in Williston. And even after receiving credentials and working in the medical field, she couldn’t leave the dream behind.
“One night, I decided I wanted to open a little sub shop. There were no good, local sub shops like Sub Deli,” she explained. On June 26, 2020, she finally made it happen and opened The Sandwich Shop on 13035 Main St. in Williston. The restaurant is a stop-off for locals and out-of-towners who want everything from their high-demand signature Philly Cheesesteak to The Sandwich Shop salad, busting out with nearly everything one would find on a traditional, fresh salad bar including fresh cooked shrimp made to order.
For nearly four years, Mrs. Dicks-Perry has worked hard to keep the business going. And that hard work has paid off recently, as a top 10 nominee for the Redefined Women’s Empowerment Inc.’s Women in Entrepreneurship 2023 Trailblazer Award. “It was a surprise to be nominated, and I was honored,” Dicks-Perry said.
It’s clear folks will travel for a great sandwich, with customers returning week after week locally and from throughout the region from Augusta to Columbia, Lexington, and Charleston and as far away as New York and New Jersey. Dicks-Perry said, “Our biggest success has been the outpouring of support from surrounding areas,” including Williston, Barnwell, Blackville, Denmark, Bamberg, and Springfield. “We have one regular customer who drives a truck and is from New Jersey. She said it was the best Philly cheesesteak she ever had.”
“Up North, they sometimes use cheese wiz or Kraft singles on their Philly Cheesesteaks,” Dicks-Perry said, “but the way I fix it at home is the way I brought it to the restaurant.” Topped with select Provolone cheese and plenty of grilled peppers and onions on your choice of bread, others from up north in Philly country have also raved about the sandwich. It might be time to go try a philly or one of their popular homemade chicken salad sandwiches!
Like so many small restaurants, the Sandwich Shop is a family affair with Mrs. Dicks-Perry’s husband Russell Perry, helping out with cooking, cleaning, and even the occasional delivery (for orders over $60). Russell, his father, and Star’s father really brought the space to life from April 2020 to June 2020 remodeling the location which was a former thrift shop. And outside of pitching in at the shop, he is a supervisor at Zeus in Aiken, Runs R.S. Freight, and is working on a CDL class state license.
As a graduate of Williston Elko High School and Denmark Technical College, Dicks-Perry is invested in the local community, and she is looking forward to expanding that investment in the near future looking to develop a new food truck and exploring a second location. “I am here every day, all day,” Dicks-Perry said, so stop by and say hey. And don’t forget your philly.
The Sandwich Shop is open Tuesday through Saturday, and located on 13035 Main St. in Williston, S.C. Visit them on social media for regular specials and updates facebook.com/AsandwichAboveTheRest . For more information, call (803) 989-9480 or email thesandwichshop3@gmail.com