Duke’s Good Sandwiches, run by husband-and-wife duo Dan and Michelle Sawyer, is on its way to opening its first storefront at 2748 Welton Street in Five Points.
Dan, who likes to travel a lot, was inspired by various popup eateries in cities like New York, Philidelphia and Chicago.
When he decided on opening the shop, he payed partial homage to the history of the Five Points neighborhood, where Duke Ellington once visited. In a personal connection, Dan’s middle name is Duke, as it was his mother’s maiden name, and he felt it connected well with the neighborhood’s history.
The upcoming space will also share a block with other well-known eateries like Rosenberg’s Bagels & Delicatessen and Famous Original J’s pizza.
The Sawyers, of which Dan is a native Coloradan himself, have spent the last year working on the menu, which will include four sandwiches: Italian sausage, meatball, caprese and the Denver chopped cheese, which is meant to be the star of the show and is inspired by the New York City bodega sandwiches comprised of griddled ground beef and onions with melted cheese on a hero roll.
What Now Denver spoke with the Sawyers on Monday, who confirmed Duke’s is slated to open by the end of October 2021.