If you have been raised in Chennai or have spent considerable time in the city, at one point in time or other you would have definitely been to the popular Royal Sandwich shops or Sandwich Square outlets to satiate your pre-dinner hunger pangs. Located in the plush Alwarpet area, the shop is a popular choice of college and office goers. In addition, many turn up from far and wide just to take of a bite of their cheesy sandwiches. While the place has been in news for the sheer varieties of sandwiches it offers, it’s the incredible journey of the owner that takes the cake or the sandwich, should we say!

Royal Sandwich, Alwarpet

Sheik Dawood, the founder of the brand, is the man responsible for the rise of a small shop, which has now become a must-visit eatery in Chennai and operates 15 franchisee-run Sandwich Squares across Chennai, and one in Vijayawada and Trichy. They have 5 of their own outlets too. Dawood has a soft demeanour and is often seen silently toasting breads or putting in the desired filling in the sandwiches at the TTK Road outlet. Born in Madurai, Dawood moved to Chennai in 1992 and completed schooling from Choolaimedu Corporation High School. After which he went out looking for a job. He started out as a shop boy at an onion wholesaler in Koyembedu Market.

Chicken Masala Sandwich

Dawood’s brother started another Royal Sandwich shop on St Mary’s Road in Alwarpet and eventually in 2014, the brothers along with friends decided to start a franchisee model leading to the birth of Sandwich Square outlets.

The entire operation is run out of a centralized kitchen in Purasawalkam. From bread and cheese to vegetables and the magic chutney, everything is supplied to the franchisees. One can savour more than 100 varieties of vegetarian and non-vegetarian sandwiches – from chocolate to chicken mayonnaise, you can have it all.

Location of One of the Royal Sandwich, Alwarpet outlet : https://goo.gl/maps/AWQdEcnD9mt