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It is a well-known fact that a dragon’s favorite food is a sandwich. Once Upon A Sandwich, a staple in Cortez since 1990, is reopening on Main Street under new owners and with a new, magical twist. That twist includes dragons.
The grand reopening is Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 7 W. Main St. in Cortez. Children 12 years old and under can enjoy a free meal in January and a dragon toy on opening day, while supplies last. Adults will be given a crochet heart.
Cameron and Kari Watson, the new owners of the sandwich shop, shared that a large part of revamping the restaurant was leaning into the “once upon a …” part of the name.
After deciding to pursue a fairy tale theme, the couple set to work. The front part of the restaurant is the “enchanted forest,” with flowers and trees coming out of the walls, hidden fairy houses, lighthearted music and more. The back half the restaurant, however, is the “dark forest,” filled with dragons, themed music and dimmer lights.
The remodel began Dec. 26. The original owners, Rick and Carolyn Hessom, retired in December after 34 years, passing the keys to the Watsons.
The Watsons, who have three children, moved to Cortez in 2020 and became regular patrons at the sandwich shop.
“We saw that the restaurant was for sale, so we started a conversation with them over a year ago about purchasing it,” Kari Watson said. “My husband came up with this really great, fun concept where we wanted to lean into the storyline and make it fun and magical and like a fairy tale. The whole concept was his idea.”
Though the menu will largely stay the same, Kari shared that their new chef, Joe Goulet, will be making some “really amazing changes” in the kitchen.
“We’re keeping the same food items, same prices, but he’s making some really fun changes, and it’s going to be really delicious,” Kari said. “Everything is cooked fresh in the kitchen.”
Some of the items that will be upgraded on the menu include fresh, house-made French fries, baked potatoes, house-made macaroni and cheese, house-made chicken strips, bacon onion jam, vegetarian red lentil curry, and sandwiches like peanut butter and banana with a honey drizzle, and green olives and cream cheese sandwich.
“It’s still the same, great home-cooked food but with a magical twist of whimsy,” Cameron Watson said. “Our mission statement is, ‘Happily serving magic daily.’”
The hours for Once Upon A Sandwich will be Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
“We’ve been married for 25 years now, and when we were first married, we worked in the restaurant business,” Kari said. “It’s been awhile, but we always loved it, which is what attracted us to it, along with the idea and the concept of a fun, fairy tale storyline that could be just great for families in Cortez.”
