Multiple times throughout the day, trains roar down the tracks running through Elon University, waking up students and stopping cars. The noise is a nuisance, but Southbound Sandwich Works in Burlington embraces the conductor aesthetic without the whistle.
The theme is evident even from the outside. The large clock above the Southbound sign brings the distinct look of a train station, and the interior has both the look and feel of an old-fashioned passenger train.
The vinyl on the booth seats, the black-and-white photographs on the walls, the old music and the classic diner personality all bring patrons back to the 1940s.
The theme goes beyond the decor. The menu, while almost entirely sandwich options, is simple, yet creative. Each menu item is given a train-related name, such as the Trainmaster, the Box Car or the Conductor.
Located at 3328 S. Church St., customers can stop by from 11:00 a.m.-8:30 p.m. for their own taste of the train station.
Owner Cindy Kearns said the restaurants theme is rooted in Burlington’s history.
“They were a part of the history of Burlington,” Kearns said. “It just has to do with the history of the area.”
Before the city was known as Burlington, the railroad industry was a large part of its economic growth and development.
This rich history is what inspired the train theme behind the restaurant and established a the foundation for it. While it hasn’t been around as long as Burlington, it creates an appreciation for the culture and history there.
Kearns said the restaurant is 13 years old, but her involvement didn’t start until this past year, when she took over for her husband.
“My husband had been in the restaurant business for a long time,” she said. “When he started it, I was not involved.”
Though she is new to the restaurant industry, Kearns said her goal is to maintain the same traditions that Southbound was founded upon. She’s kept up the train idea because it’s part of the restaurant’s branding.
Aside from appearance, each sandwich is toasted and served hot, and the options are diverse, ranging from a vegetarian portabella to a heavy reuben. Other Elon News Network members who went to the restaurant each ordered a different sandwich, and no one was disappointed.
The cheese was perfectly melted, the bread was roasted and the meat was applied generously, making up the majority of the sandwich.
The pricing is reasonable as well. A sandwich with a side is only $7.29, while a sandwich with a soup or salad is $7.99. As a whole, the menu prices range from roughly $4.30 to $8.00.
Southbound Sandwich Works prices work on a college budget and compares with sandwich shops chains such as Subway or Jimmy Johns, but with more Southern charm. Kearns said they get a fair amount of Elon students mixed in with some locals.
“When we had graduation this past May, we had so many that came in and said, ‘It’s our last time here. We’re so sad,’” Kearns said.