Adam Campbell and William Brancati, childhood friends from the Blue Ridge Mountains, have opened the Dragon Hero sandwich shop near the 9:30 Club. The shop's menu features sandwiches named after legendary dragon-slayers, including King Arthur and Mario. Although Campbell has extensive culinary experience across Virginia, this marks his first permanent establishment, bringing unique challenges that he embraces. Despite the hurdles, local diners have responded positively to the menu concept and sandwiches, proving the idea resonates well with the community.
Growing up in the Blue Ridge Mountains, hometown friends Adam Campbell and William Brancati used to affectionately refer to each other as 'dragons'—an inside joke, Campbell admits. Now, this inside joke is the central tenet of their new sandwich shop, Dragon Hero, open across the street from the 9:30 Club.
Campbell has cooked in kitchens across Virginia—at Roanoke's Brambleton Deli and BBQ, the Berkeley Hotel, and Balliceaux, and, most recently, he served as the executive chef of Richmond's Rappahannock Oyster Company.
As soon as I explain the 'hero' concept, everybody has a little chuckle,' he says. 'Everybody likes the idea. And, more importantly, everybody seems to be liking the sandwiches.
With the pop-up, while pretty physically demanding, there was less to worry about—a little bit of simpler times,' he says. 'This brick-and-mortar is obviously taking a lot of my attention.
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