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  • Writer's pictureDiana Brandt

Local Sandwich Shop Expands to Downtown Phoenix


Zookz Sandwiches is excited to announce the opening of its second location in Phoenix. In 2012, the locally-owned and operated restaurant became the first of its kind to serve up its unique round pressed toasted sandwiches on the west side of Central. Due to limited parking, Zookz relocated just a block N of its original location to Uptown Plaza in 2016 and saw its sales double. The next location opens on Monday, July 16 at 1 North First St. in Phoenix. The restaurant will offer sandwiches for breakfast, lunch and dessert.

Carole Meyer was a young girl growing up in Libya, when her grandmother Berdjoui, inspired her to open Zookz. Berdjoui first made the sandwiches for her with a handheld device that she found in London. In fact, many of her grandmother’s recipes show up in daily specials at the restaurant. The round shape of the toasted sandwiches differentiates Zookz from your average sandwich. The sealed edges keep fillings like meats, cheeses, eggs and fruit from falling out.

“These round toasted sandwiches are the ultimate comfort food. They are warm, crunchy and cheesy w/ interesting combinations of ingredients and textures. They have been well received and have kept our customers coming back for more,” says Zookz owner, Carole Meyer.

The Zookz menu boasts something for everyone, whether you are in the mood for breakfast, lunch or something sweet. Breakfast sandwich favorites like the No. 66 are filled with cheddar cheese, poached eggs, bacon, tomatoes, green onions and Zookz Zinger Cream Cheese Sauce. If guests are in the mood for lunch, they can try sandwiches like the No. 10 with thinly sliced turkey, crunchy apples, tangy parmesan cheese, cranberries, almonds and Zookz Sweet Heat Mustard Sauce. There are also fresh salads and dessert sandwiches, like their No. 55 with peanut butter, Nutella, bananas, roasted almonds and powder sugar available for purchase.

Zookz downtown Phoenix location will be open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Zookz downtown location will not be open on the weekends right away. The downtown spot will feature a dog-friendly patio, a large floor-to-ceiling window in the front and a portrait of Meyer’s late grandmother, Berdjoui.

“We are so appreciative of the support we have received from our loyal customers and very excited about our new location. We think it’s the perfect spot for our second store in Phoenix,” says Meyer.

For more information about Zookz Sandwiches, visit zookzsandwiches.com. You can also like their Facebook page at@ZookzSandwiches, or follow them on Instagram at @ZookzSandwiches.

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