By DANIEL ESRIG (Danwich)

I am sad to announce that The Grand Sandwich has closed its doors. Although business was good, and we continued to grow, we were unable to generate the volume we needed to be successful as a business. I want to thank the Macalester community for all of its support and good will. I believe in grabbing opportunity. When I was a student, I thought Mac needed a place to get a great sandwich and a place that reflected the school. I also had the dream of owning my own business. That is what I tried to create. When I opened the restaurant, I knew that making it was going to be difficult, but I also knew that either way the lessons I would learn and the experience I would have should not be passed up. There are undoubtedly things I would have done differently, but that’s life when you take risks and work hard. When you think about your future and what you want to do with your life, remember that the end result is not the important part, it’s the path you took to get there, and the impact that it has on you and the people around you. The Grand Sandwich did not solve the typical Macalester quest to make the world a better place, but the experiences I had have given me new perspectives on the world and have taught me the importance of innovation and ambition. Since I can’t leave you with a sandwich, I’ll leave with a few words of advice. When you try to decide your next step, remember, success is not always measured by how much money you make, or the recognition you receive, but by what you learn and how you contribute to the community. I know it’s cliché, but you should reach for the stars, not because the stars are a cool place to hang out, but because the journey there never ends, and the possibilities are ever changing. Thanks so much for the support, and I look forward to seeing all of you around the Mac Community. refresh –>