Even Stevens sandwich shop opens in downtown Phoenix, 12/7
Order a sandwich, give a sandwich.
That’s the model behind Even Stevens, the Utah-based sandwich shop that opens Wednesday, Dec. 7, at Van Buren Street and First Avenue in downtown Phoenix.
The eatery features sandwiches, salads, soups and breakfast/brunch items for under $10. Phoenix is the second Arizona branch; the first debuted in downtown Gilbert in October and other units are planned for Tempe, Scottsdale and Arcadia, all set to open by early next year.
Steve Down launched Even Stevens in Salt Lake City in 2014. For each sandwich purchased, a sandwich is donated to local charities.
"Arizona's a wonderful market — we have other business here as well — so it's kind of a natural evolution in our development of Even Stevens," Down told The Republic as the Phoenix store prepared to open. "As we provide the best sandwich in the state of Arizona, we will feed Arizona's hungry along with it. What's better than that?"
Embracing 'social capitalism'
Down described himself as a "social entrepreneur."
"I believe every business should support a non-profit partner," he said, adding that he and his wife, Colleen, "believe the new capitalism, the capitalism our children, Millennials and our grandchildren will embrace is what we call social capitalism."
Besides partnering with Valley non-profits such as St. Vincent de Paul and Phoenix Rescue Mission, the new branch has partnered with a number of local food purveyors: Noble Bread and Cotton Country Jams in Phoenix, and Peixoto Coffee and SanTan Brewing Company in Chandler.
Michael McHenry, chief operations office for Even Stevens, said downtown Phoenix is the perfect location for the concept. "We believe there has been a resurgence here in the last 12 months," he said. "There's great sidewalk traffic here that appeals to the ASU students and people using the light rail."
What's on the menu
Look for creative takes on sandwiches, salads and breakfast items:
- Mihami Vice (Cubano): Roast pork, ham, whole mustard, Swiss cheese and pickle spears in a baguette ($8.65).
- Jackfruit Torta: Jackfruit carnitas, pepitas, guacamole, salsa morita, radish, cilantro, lettuce and pickled onions in a sweet bun ($7.95).
- Pot Roast Dip: Turkey pot roast, Swiss, red onion and jalapeño jelly in a baguette, au jus ($8.85).
- The Goat Hugger: Salad of roasted beets, spinach, arugula, candied pecans and goat cheese vin with rye toast ($7.95).
- Undergrad Breakfast Burrito: Flour tortilla, two eggs, bacon or sausage, white Cheddar, tots, house sauce and Sriracha ($6.75).
Even Stevens will also host a Sunday brunch with unlimited French toast, a $5 bites menu with dishes such as the Beehive Baked Mac ($4.85) and Tom Basil Bisque ($4.95) and eventually will serve beer and wine.
Details: 21 W. Van Buren St., Phoenix. Also, 384 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert. 480-219-5299, evenstevens.com. Hours: 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sundays for brunch.
Reach the reporter at kellie.hwang@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8690. Follow at twitter.com/KellieHwang.
How the giving happens
1. Even Stevens customers buy sandwiches throughout the month. At the end of the month, sales are tallied and funds for sandwich ingredients (bread, meat, cheese and produce) are placed into a Sysco food account.
2. Non-profit partners access the account and order ingredients. The downtown Phoenix location will support St. Vincent de Paul, Desert Mission Food Bank, Sojourner Center and Phoenix Rescue Mission.
3. The order is delivered to non-profits, where staff and volunteers make the sandwiches (or other meals) and dole them out to people in need.
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