Just your average Mennonite sub shop? Did you see that sandwich?

The Walnut Leaf Country Market in the town of Camargo is arguably the best place to get a deli sandwich in Montgomery County. Funny thing is, sandwiches were never intended to be the store’s top priority.

Between being the owner of Appalachian Meats, a commercial meat processor in West Liberty, and doing business at local farmer’s markets, Walnut Leaf’s managing partner Marlin Gerber opened the market because of his interest in retail and his love of working with the public.

When he was scouting possible locations, he found a property that had potential at 4004 Camargo Road that used to house an old Subway restaurant, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

“The equipment was here, so let’s just make some sandwiches and carry on with some of that,” Gerber said. “It kind of helped put some things together for us.”

Since it opened in 2017, word spread in Camargo and nearby Mt. Sterling that Walnut Leaf was something different from your typical sandwich shop. The first thing you may notice when you come to the market and stare at the menu, written on a couple of large, black dry-erase boards hung on floral wallpaper, is how you order your sandwich.

“Some people come in and they say, well, how do we order a sandwich? They expect to see (menu items numbered) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. We don’t do that,” Gerber said. “We say, ‘what do you want for bread,’ and you tell us what you want for meat and cheese. We’ll do any combination.”

Many of the condiments and veggie options aren’t far removed from what you would get at chain sandwich shops like the market’s previous occupants, but the amount, variety and freshness of the key ingredients on the sandwiches that gets people talking.

Customers get to choose from nine different types of bread, including the market’s fresh-baked sourdough, with the largest sandwich being a 10-inch sub for only $5.50. They can then pick from a variety of meats in the bins ranging from popular choices like cajun turkey to honey ham, herb and garlic chicken, and salami, among others.

Gerber’s go-to? All of the above.

“Four meats on the same sandwich,” he said of his sandwich of choice. “I don’t charge you a penny more unless you want more meat on it than I typically put on.”

There is the option to get double meat for a dollar more, but one Facebook user tagged the unofficial account for Walnut Leaf with pictures of his sandwich saying, in all caps, ”I’LL NEVER ORDER DOUBLE MEAT AGAIN.” It wasn’t a complaint.

Same goes for the cheese, which is thickly sliced and ranges from sandwich staples like Swiss and colby jack to more interesting options like habanero cheddar, Amish butter cheese or green onion. Can’t decide which one to choose? Gerber said you can add multiple kinds at no extra cost.

Walnut Leaf also has deli meats and cheeses next to its sandwich station and sells to customers by the pound, so diners also have the option to select one of those if they see something they like.

“What I say is, if you want something, I’ve got twice to thrice the deli product that will fit in the machine ... they’re not limited to what’s in the bin,” Gerber said. “You can come in here for a month and never get the same sandwich.”

Chances are if you venture to Walnut Leaf, you will end up leaving with more than a sandwich. While it does have a small area for seating, the sandwich shop is also a family-run grocery store with members of the Mennonite community.

The market sells fresh produce and fresh-baked loaves of sourdough and white breads, along with specialty breads like banana nut, pumpkin and zucchini. The homemade butterscotch, peanut butter and coconut creme pies are perpetual best-sellers and they will also whip up strawberry pies when that fruit is in season. The children and your inner kid will also be delighted at the number of candies and sweets the market sorts, weighs and packages in-house or the soft-serve machine that allows them to whip up sundaes, banana splits and frosty shakes.

Gerber said whether it’s a superior sandwich or something to satisfy your sweet tooth, his faith and his love for people allows Walnut Leaf Country Market to be something more than a successful small business.

“Just meeting the people and having a happy customer is the enjoyment of the day for me,” he said. “Christ talked about being a light to the world and a salt to the earth. If we can inspire something different in our neighborhood, that’s what it’s about.”

Walnut Leaf Country Market

Where: 4004 Camargo Rd., Camargo

Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sat.

Contact: 859-520-3105

This story was originally published February 27, 2020 at 7:36 AM.