Dave's Cosmic Subs Finally Comes to Lakewood
Lakewood Customers Enjoy the Cosmic Experience!
By Fran Johnson, LakewoodBuzz.com Reporter
 

 

When you enter the newly-opened eatery, you’ll likely be welcomed by the voices of newlyweds Larry and Linda Emerson… and the voices of their friends Neil Young, Cat Stevens, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin.  Larry and Linda are the proprietors of the new Original Dave’s Cosmic Subs in downtown Lakewood, 14813 Detroit Avenue, in front of the "Marc's Plaza."

 

Neil, Cat, Jimi and Janis play for your listening pleasure.  For the minute you might wait for your order, they’ll transport you to the Woodstock era… a time when it was all about experiencing the experience, right Jimi?  At Dave’s Cosmic Subs, it’s also about experiencing the taste of a well-made sub sandwich, say the new owners.

 

“Our atmosphere is retro, it’s fun!” says Linda, “and our sub sandwiches are the best tasting in town!”

 

John Corral, on a break from work, was in the new shop... and he agrees.  The Howard Hanna employee has been having “Cosmic” lunch and dinner experiences at other Northeast Ohio Dave's locations for years, long before the launch of the new Dave’s Cosmic Subs in Lakewood.

 

“I’ve been a loyal Cosmic Subs customer for about five years.  The sandwiches are great and the menu is inventive.  It’s not the run-of-the-mill sub shop,” said John.  Asked to name his favorite gourmet sub on the menu, he thought for a while, narrowing his long list down to two.

 

“The Italian Sausage is the best in town, it’s one of my favorites.  My all-time favorite is ‘The Crazy Dave’ -- number eight on the menu,” noted John.  The Crazy Dave is made with prosciutto, capicola, hot peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, fresh garlic and provolone cheese, all sprinkled with crushed red peppers, herbs and Dave’s Cosmic Sauce.  “The Crazy Dave keeps me comin’ back.”

 

Subs are served cold or piping hot on Italian or whole wheat bread baked fresh throughout the day in the store's ovens.  Regular 8-inch (not 6-inch, here) subs start at $3.99 (examples, the Davey Dog and the Pizza Sub).  Their large 16-inch (not just a foot-long) subs can feed three people for only $9.49 (such as the Turkey Dave, Dave’s Veg Out and the Tuna Dave). 

 

“Our 16-inch subs are more and they’re better!” boasts Larry.

 

There’s also a lower-priced kids menu featuring roasted turkey breast, smoked ham, cheesy choices, and a classic Italian sub.

 

Larry says that so far the most popular subs overall with Lakewood customers are The Original Dave’s Cosmic Sub (menu item #1) and The Crazy Dave (#8 and John’s spicy choice).  Local veggie favorites include the Gourmet Salads, and the Garden Burger, Dave's Haight Ashbury and Dave's Veg Out subs.

 

Over the years as a customer, Larry says he has savored every Cosmic sub there is, while Linda says she is closing fast behind her new husband and fellow gourmet sub lover.  Neither could pick just one favorite each.

 

“It’s too hard to choose just one!” exclaims Linda.  But, if it means anything, the first subs they mentioned among their favorites were The Super Dave (Larry) and Dave’s Far Out Chicken (Linda).

 

“The Far Out Chicken has a kick to it I like,” she says.  Linda adds, smiling… “It really is far out!”
 

 

No Favorite?
 

But some customers don’t have favorites.  Sandy Thweatt, pictured, walked into Dave’s Cosmic Subs and said she didn’t have one.

 

“I don’t have a favorite because this is my first time here!” admits Sandy.  “I’ve been waiting for it to open, ever since somebody told me that Dave's Cosmic Subs are very good.”

 

Sandy is a Lakewood mail carrier who delivers on Northland and Atkins Avenues. She walked in for two reasons.  To experience her first Dave’s Cosmic Sub and because she had one more “special delivery” to make for the day.

 

“Do you have more menus for me to take back to our people at the post office?” she asked.

 

Larry and Linda were more than happy to oblige, confident they would see Sandy again and eventually her co-workers.  Is their confidence based upon Baby Boomers wanting to flash back to the Yellow Submarine sounds of the psychedelic Beatles period?

 

The music plus the concert posters, rock band photos, graffiti and guitars that adorn the new sub shop's walls are certainly part of the fun experience for customers.  Many customers linger after picking up their orders so they can check out the interesting ‘60s memorabilia on the walls.  And Larry, who tasted his first Dave’s Cosmic Sub six years ago at the original sub shop in Chagrin Falls, knows what it takes to build a loyal corps of sub sandwich lovers who “keep comin’ back” like John Corral and himself.  It’s like building a quality house on a solid foundation, Larry says.

 

“We have the best bread, finest quality fresh ingredients, great training and the expertise to make sure everything is to Founder Cosmic Dave Lombardy’s high specifications.  That’s how we get to creating a gourmet sub that, once you’ve had one, it just sells itself.  Dave’s Cosmic Subs appeal to everybody of every age!”

 

Or to paraphrase the 1967 peace-love song Aquarius… “This is the dawning of the Age of the Cosmic Sub” in Lakewood.

 

Are you experienced yet as a member of Dave's Cosmic Subculture?
  

The new Original Dave’s Cosmic Subs is located in downtown Lakewood at 14813 Detroit Avenue.  Its hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, open Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. 

Dave’s Cosmic Subs now offers FREE delivery during the holidays to any Lakewood address on minimum orders of $5.

Walk-in orders are welcome or you can call 216-221-1117 to place your order to pick up later.

Party Tray orders for catering to businesses, schools and other large events are available.  Call Larry or Linda at 221-1117.