Eastcut Sandwich Bar Expands to Cary With Third Triangle Location

Eastcut Sandwich Bar, the Durham-born gourmet sandwich concept that became a Bull City favorite before pushing into Raleigh, has signed a lease at Waverly Place in Cary for what will be its third Triangle location, according to a report from Triangle Business Journal.

The new shop will occupy a combined footprint that includes the former Capriotti's Sandwich Shop space and the former L.A. Bikini space next door. WRAL contributor Sean Lennard, citing the Triangle Business Journal report, noted the Cary location is expected to open this fall. Eastcut also hinted at plans to open an additional two to three more locations beyond Cary.

The company traces its roots to co-founders Brad Bankos and Steve Wuench, who hatched the idea in July 2017 after relocating from New Jersey and the Bronx to Durham. Both grew up surrounded by delis and mile-high sandwiches, and Eastcut became their attempt to recreate that experience in the Triangle. The original Durham location opened in summer 2018, tucked among several neighborhoods about five minutes south of Duke University.

After building a loyal following in Durham, Bankos and Wuench expanded to Raleigh Iron Works, a mixed-use development at 1101 East Whitaker Mill Road, in June 2023. That location was the first restaurant to open in the Atlantic Avenue development, which also houses Scott Crawford's Brodeto, Andia's Ice Cream, and a Ponysaurus Brewing taproom. The Raleigh spot sits in roughly 1,200 square feet of dining space with a covered front porch and open side yard, and is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The menu centers on made-from-scratch sandwiches with house-made components, including housemade mozzarella, drawing on culinary traditions from up and down the East Coast. Craft beer, cider, and wine round out the offerings. The company describes its mission as a drive "to cultivate Sandwich Utopia, where our Team Members thrive and our community finds cheer."

Waverly Place, a well-trafficked Cary retail center, positions Eastcut to reach a different slice of Triangle diners. No official opening date has appeared on Eastcut's website, and a precise suite number for the Cary location has not been publicly released.