Sandwich Joint Cheba Hut Comes To Austin

AUSTIN, TX — There's a new sandwich joint in town with a theme in line with the mantra to Keep Austin Weird: Cheba Hut — with its eclectic, counter-culture theme — is set to open on Monday after months of delays.

The opening at 3016 Guadalupe St.— where the Wild Wood Bakehouse once operated next to the popular Via 313 pizza eatery, a stoner's throw, umm, stone's throw away from UT-Austin — is scheduled on Monday, June 22, marking the chain's entry into Texas. The sandwich shop will be operated by the father-and-son team of Vincent and Joe DeMaioribus, who told Patch in an earlier interview that Austin is a perfect fit for the enterprise.

In the previous phone chat with the restaurateurs, they said they had hoped to open on 4/20 — you know, cannabis culture slang for marijuana consumption referencing the optimum smoking time. But that was before the emergence of the coronavirus, which altered everyone's plans to one degree or another. But the restaurant was hardly up in smoke, and its operators refused to let their dream get snuffed out.

Patch dropped by the place to check out the facade, and it's all ready to be unveiled — if a tad tardy from the originally planned opening date. Outside the place, a rack was affixed with take-home menus detailing the menu options for passersby.

About that menu: The father-and-son team told Patch guests can also build their own sandwich and select from three sizes: The "nug" at 4 inches ($6.29), the pinner measuring in at 8 inches ($9.79)or the foot-long "blunt" ($12.79) for those with real appetites. Also offered are salads and snacks, or "munchies," in the menu nomenclature because of course.

If you're starting to detect a theme, you get high marks. Organized under the categories of “Chicken and Turkey,” “Veggie” and “Meat,” the offerings include mouth-watering, toasted (get it?) sandwiches such as the "White Widow" featuring grilled chicken breast smothered in Cheba’s signature house-made ranch dressing topped with mushrooms, bacon and provolone, and the "Chronic" with roast beef, BBQ sauce, green peppers, mushrooms and cheddar.

There's also the "Jamaican Red," a spicy chicken sandwich; the "Kush" BLT; the "Apaculpo Gold" barbecue chicken version; and the "Magic Mushroom" veggie option featuring mounds of portabello. The “Munchies” section features items that can be shared, such as the "Loaded Not’chos," as well as salads and several dessert offerings under the “Treats” section like a home-made Rice Krispie bar.

There's a full-service bar too, with an equally playful beverage program. The “Cottonmouth Cures” menu comprises the shop’s non-alcoholic offerings including fountain drinks, iced tea, Kool Aid and more, as well as a selection of local spirits and beers such as Live Oak Brewing Company and (512) Brewing Company. The full bar also incorporates a number of clever names — cocktails that include the Hash Can — Cheba Hut’s most famous drink with a mysterious, boozy concoction of blue curacao, Red Bull and “all the things (L.I.I.T)” — as well as the Dirty Hippie made with fresh cucumbers, lemonade and Deep Eddy Vodka, the Bloody Mary Jane and more. Cheba Hut also offers a to-go bar menu.

The Fort Collins, Colorado-based chain has been around since 1998 after its founding in Arizona by Scott Jennings, since then "breaking the mold of mundane fast-casual concepts by becoming the first marijuana-themed sandwich 'joint,' company officials described in a press release. "Cheba Hut is dedicated to providing customers with delicious and memorable sandwich and munchie options in a chill, eclectic environment where made-to-order food is served by genuine people," officials described.

Elsewhere in the U.S., locations feature large-scale psychedelic art and portraits of noted stoners such as Willie Nelson, Hunter S. Thomson and Richard "Cheech" Marin. Artwork in Austin will have a decidedly Austin spin, according to officials. The DeMaioribus boys sought out work from a local muralist to yield a local vibe, finding Austin-based couple Candy Kuo (@candy_statuskuo) and Fish (@manwithpencil) to illustrate the trippy theme: "What if mankind disappeared, but the moonlight towers were kept on?"

Patch got a sneak peek at the interior of the new eatery, and got photos illustrating the manifestation of that existentialist, vaguely dystopian, art theme:

Photo by Tony Cantú/Patch staff.

Here's another:

Photo by Tony Cantú/Patch staff.

Patch interviewed the father-and-son team of restaurateurs last year before the duo had even found a site for their venture, telling us they had narrowed down the search. Originally from Buffalo, New York, the elder DeMaioribus had retired from a career in electronics while his son was wrapping up a job as general manager for Jersey Mike's, another sandwich chain. The son said he discovered Cheba Hut while attending school in Arizona, and thought it would be a good fit in Austin — and the ideal venture to go into business with his dad, which had been a longtime goal.

"My stated goal was to retire early and open a neighborhood bar," the elder entrepreneur told Patch. "I thought it would be a nice retirement job. Joey came up with the idea this was something he wanted to do. When we stumbled on Cheba Hut, this checked all the boxes. I believe the concept is perfect for us."

His son agreed, noting the Austin vibe lends itself to the restaurant's theme: "Austin is the little sweet spot in Texas," he said. "It's Austin weird —a little bit more out there — and I could see it would work really well. Everybody we talk to about it in this area or even outside the area has expressed to us it will do really well."

In a separate telephone interview, the Cheba Hut chief relationship officer, Seth Larsen, echoed the sentiments: "Austin definitely has a vibe, and we can add to that and fit right in," he said as the DeMaioribus duo scoured the city for a good space. "It's a perfect fit, and we're looking forward to getting started."

In adherence to state guidelines amid a time of coronavirus, Cheba Hut will open at 50 percent capacity. Guests can also place orders for curbside pickup online and via Cheba Hut’s free app available for Android and iOS. Delivery is available through DoorDash.

The eatery will be open Sunday to Friday from 10 a.m. to midnight and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. For more information, visit www.chebahut.com/austin or call (512) 305-3939. Follow along on Instagram and Facebook @chebahut.