New Dishes on the Block: Bigfoot Subs

For Dannie Wright, there’s nothing better than a house full of people sharing a meal. Her diner-style sub shop in the Heart of the Westside neighborhood mimics that feeling Monday through Saturday.

Wright launched Bigfoot Subs – her first go at business ownership – on West College Street on Jan. 1. She purchased the former home of Tubby’s Diner in July 2018 for the space, which includes diner tables, a large bookshelf of games, a pool table and jukebox. She said it’s a family environment, adding, “I know pretty much everybody that’s been here more than once.”

Wright said the meatball sub with melted provolone cheese and marinara sauce is a top crowd pleaser. It’s her mom’s recipe.

“I can hardly keep them made,” she said. “The meatballs are massive. It’s just a huge sandwich.”

Wright isn’t just the owner of Bigfoot Subs; she’s also the chef. “I cook everything. It’s killing me,” she said with a chuckle.

The menu features 10 sub sandwiches, a rotating soup selection, chili, salad and pizza, as well as beer by the bottle.

Her journey hasn’t been a straight path to restaurant ownership. She said she was a federal intelligence analyst in Washington, D.C., and then served active duty with the Army for five years, mostly in the Middle East.

“When I got out of the Army I decided to completely simplify my life. I just wanted to do something that I really enjoyed,” she said. “I don’t think I was naturally suited for anything more than I am for this. I love people and food, and I love to feed people.”

Wright said she originally opened Bigfoot Subs to generate revenue to renovate the rental cottages behind the diner, but now the shop itself has become her passion. City Councilwoman Phyllis Ferguson has stepped up as an investor to renovate the Rockwood Motor Court, and Wright said the renovations are on track to be completed this fall.

“I’m hoping one at a time if people invest in this little stretch of road that it will become a snowball effect,” she said.

As for the origins of the eatery’s name, Wright said it was a late-night drive to visit family in Texas that sparked the idea. She saw a sign for Bigfoot Barbeque and thought it was a fun theme.

Now, local Bigfoot followers often dine in and share stories of sightings.

So is the creature real?

“Of course,” Wright says with a smile. “He eats sandwiches here.”