Sandwiches Made Right unexpectedly closes its doors, then reopens

Closed. Gone fishing.

That is what the marquee said early last week inside Sandwiches Made Right, a restaurant that has been serving Newton customers for almost 100 years. The doors were locked, the lights off. No one sat at the front counter watching staff prepare the loose meat sandwiches, known colloquially as Maid-Rites.

All the while the community was left wondering what happened. For all they knew, business was good. Anybody who passed a glance at the restaurant on any given day would see the place packed with people, or the drive-thru window traffic backed up into the 200 block of First Avenue West.

Speculation over why the restaurant closed soon found its way online, leading many to point fingers without full knowledge of what really happened. To make matters worse, a customer complained of a bad experience at the restaurant shortly before it closed, which only fed into the wild theories.

Between the closure and the car crash at April’s Diner — an SUV accelerated past a curb when trying to park and barreled head-first through the entrance — it was not a good news day for Newton restaurants. Hence why KCCI made its way to town to learn why people were upset their favorite Maid Rite had closed.

Of course the timing of the closure wasn’t great either. To lock the doors just days before Newton alumni met for their all-class reunion meant that many folks would be without their favorite hometown meals. But then just as soon as the place closed, the marquee inside Sandwiches Made Right had a different message:

Fish weren’t biting. Back open Friday. Welcome home, Newton graduates.

THE RESTAURANT HAD A LEGACY, AND IT STILL DOES

It’s like it never happened. The restaurant reopened its doors on June 9 and welcomed the hungry Cardinals before they met for their reunions and an evening of drinking at Legacy Plaza. As is tradition, several wrote their names on the blackboard inside what they still refer to as the “Newton Maid-Rite.”

Although the restaurant is not technically part of the Iowa-based dining franchise, it still serves its signature sandwich. When owner Michael Brown Sr. took over the business in 2021 from Dan Holtkamp — who had it for 51 years — he added several new menu items, and, controversially, removed fan favorites like donuts.

Still, customers loved the place, and the new specials and menu items were a hit. Brown was interviewed by Newton News in June 2022, and he spoke of his strict standards to quality and quantity when it comes to food. He was clearly proud of his restaurant, and he was confident it could stand toe-to-toe against any other.

Brown bought the restaurant because of the nostalgia he had for it, a feeling he shares with many customers who visit the place on a weekly — or daily — basis. He wanted to see the restaurant survive for years to come, and he was confident he could bring it to another level.

“And that’s what I did,” Brown said in an interview with Newton News.

COMMUNITY’S PRECONCEPTIONS ONLY FUEL THE DRAMA

However, the town was quick to turn on Brown when they learned one of their favorite restaurants had closed. Perhaps it was his personality and his high expectations that led people to bandwagon onto the customer’s complaint, which was largely targeting Brown’s behavior after a joke was made about food quality.

Staff still contend the complaint was exaggerated and claimed parts were just plain untrue. Other residents say they don’t agree with the way Brown has talked to his employees. Brown admitted he does expect good or better from his workers, but he said the good ones understand him and adhere to his standards.

Lori Ganoe, an employee of the restaurant for more than 40 years, said the culmination of Brown’s health and him working close to 70 to 80 hours a week ultimately resulted in the restaurant’s closure. “His body just couldn’t take it anymore,” Ganoe said to Newton News the day the restaurant reopened.

Newton residents may then argue the incident that sparked the complaint was the straw that broke the camel’s back, so to speak. Many believe that. Brown rejects those claims, telling Newton News that the amount of hours per week far exceeded what he planned on, and his health was also a matter of concern.

In the past, Brown said he collapsed from the heat and from having to keep up with orders. Problems with his sciatic nerves only exacerbated the issue, and it is likely he will have surgery. Another year or two, he said, could have created even more problems. Especially for someone who says he’ll sleep when he dies.

“I joke that I’m 59 but I have the body of a 72-year-old, and my doctors agree,” Brown said. “Ever since I’ve been 21, I’ve never had more than seven days off.”

AMBITIOUS OWNER PROVED HIMSELF, BUT AT A PERSONAL COST

Looking back on his roughly two-year ownership, he is still proud of what he accomplished. Numbers don’t lie, he said. Sales were up. Employees were paid more. Food was as popular as ever. But the decision to step away has given Brown greater clarity about what is really important to him.

“My wife deserves my time, and my family deserves my time,” Brown said. “I’ve proven what I can do. That place needed oxygen and I brought it oxygen, along with my team. And I had some very good employees. Some came and went. But the key ones truly know and understand me.”

So if it isn’t Brown who reopened Sandwiches Made Right, who did? Well, the new owner remains anonymous for now, but Ganoe said they are a devoted community member who wanted to make sure the town kept its longtime Maid Rite open. Which also means Ganoe is to serve as manager from now on.

The day the restaurant reopened, Ganoe said she’s never been given so many handshakes. The support from the community was overwhelming, and she hopes it stays that way. Ganoe expects a lot of the changes Brown made to the menu will stay, apart from the barbecued meats prevalent in daily specials.

Regardless, Ganoe is just happy to be working again. When she found out Brown had closed the restaurant, she was devastated. But as early as Monday she got a call from the new owner asking her if she would be willing to manage the restaurant. Just like that she got her job back. It’s like it never happened.

“I’m excited,” Ganoe said of being able to return back to the way things were. Then she grinned. “I don’t know if we’ll get the donuts back, but I’m going to try.”