Schlotzsky's

     The Schlotzsky's sandwich chain started began in 1971 in a small hole in the wall store on south Congress avenue in Austin Texas.  The sandwich shop only had one item on the menu, it was called the Schlotzsky Original.  The Original cost $2.50-$2.75 depending on what size you ordered.  In 1971, $2.50 was a lot of money for a sandwich but the sandwiches sold as fast as they could make them.  Business was so good, a shop on the University of Texas soon opened.  that location is where I ate my first Schlotzsky.  I remember the sandwiches being as big as a large dinner plate.  You could only eat half of one and then you saved the other half for another meal.

     Things have sure changed since 1971.  The Original today is no larger than your average hamburger it cost more than twice what it did in 1971.  Since 1971 I've eaten only two of the sandwiches and both times I was disappointed.  Once I had a coupon for a free sandwich and the most recent time Schlotzsky's was celebrating a remodeling and offered the small Original for $2.99.  I guess it's true, you can never go home again.