We decided to open a sandwich shop in 2011 as a pop-up shop in New Haven. The joke in our logo (est. 2012) was a reference to, that if the pop-up worked we would open a real store. The pop-up never materialized but the idea never died and when the space next to 116 Crown was vacated we immediately rented it to execute my vision. We were inspired to open a sandwich shop upon hearing the origin of t
he word: Company. The word "Company" is derived from two Latin words, cm (with) and panis (bread). It comes to us from Old French. It literally means a person or persons you break bread with. Think of words like pantry and companion. It highlights the importance in ancient times of food and drink as part of a civil society. According to Webster, it can refer to:
An association of persons for a joint purpose
The members of a partnership
A band of musical or dramatic performers
Guests or visitors
Society in general
Meat, and gathering around the fire on which it cooks is another historical social hub in people’s lives. It’s curious as to how both words have as much to do with food as they do the folks eating it and in the case of meat there is the alternative spelling: to consider: meet. Meat not only means "food"; especially solid food as distinguished from drink or the edible part of something as distinguished from its covering (as a husk or shell) or "flesh" specifically: flesh of domesticated animals but also The Core of something or a favorite pursuit or interest. So here we see that meat is not only at the core of ‘company’ but the core of everything (especially a sandwich (both ways)). These definitions were at the heart of opening a Sandwich Shop and additionally are actually posted on the front windows of the physical space. Good meat has been headline material for centuries from cave drawings to the New York Times. This is at the core of our philosophy, to take good meat and good bread (the concerns & core of the people & the person since the dawn of time) and bring them together in a space that people could enjoy one another ('meet' with good 'company'), or catering other ‘meetings’. At 116 Crown we have carefully and selectively put together drinks and dinner by using the best ingredients, care, and imagination - and we are now taking the same philosophy and applying it at lunch, to the medium of the sandwich. We make sandwiches with the best local ingredients, cooking technique & equal parts love and respect for the miracle this is a good sandwich. We are motivated by innovation & whimsy (and the availability of superlative ingredients) so our menu will change, frequently, in fact.. We also love to party (you wouldn't go to a bald barber, would you?) and would like to cater your next event, so contact us for more information. We love our work and want you to, too, so, please, expect the amazing.
