Opening amid coronavirus pandemic, Oakdale sandwich shop sees success and gives back
You might think that the middle of a global pandemic with a statewide stay-at-home order and an increasingly uncertain economy would be a bad time to open a new restaurant. But, the folks at The Corral Sandwich Shop in Oakdale might just prove you wrong.
The new eatery on West F Street opened a little more than a week ago, and has been doing a brisk business since. Because of ongoing restaurant restrictions due to the coronavirus outbreak, the shop’s dining room is closed for seating and they only are offering takeout service.
“The community been so supportive; people have been so excited and are really embracing it,” said The Corral owner Vicky Rosaia. “We’re busier than anticipated, with some growing pains and ironing out quirks and glitches. But we’re really happy with the results.”
They will say thank you for the support by giving away free frozen yogurt to all Oakdale graduating seniors on Friday, May 8.
Plans for the new restaurant were underway well before COVID-19 disrupted life in the Central Valley and across the world. About a year ago Rosaia came up with the idea, and had originally hoped to open closer to Thanksgiving 2019. But after some construction delays and difficulty navigating city inspections due to shutdowns, they’ve finally opened their doors.
Rosaia and her family moved from the Bay Area to Oakdale about two years ago. She grew up in a restaurant family which owned Italian eateries. She first realized the town could use a new frozen yogurt shop, and expanded the idea to a sandwich shop that also serves breakfast and froyo.
She picked a spot with a prime location just a block away from Oakdale High School in a former consignment clothing store that over the years also served as book and pet shops. But she still had to come up with a theme and name. Given the city’s slogan of “Cowboy Capital of the World” and the high school’s mascot of a mustang, they picked The Corral Sandwich shop.
The western motif extends to the inside decor with its barn-wood walls, and their cartoon logo named “Cactus Jack.” Once it opens, the inside dining room will have seating for about 25. The shop has six employees, which should grow to 10 once restaurants are able to fully reopen in Stanislaus County.
The sandwiches, all served on 6- or 12-inch sized bread from Stockton’s Genova Bakery, continue the cowboy theme. You can pick from some 20 specials or build-your-own. Favorites are already emerging like The OKG (roast beef, turkey, ham, pepperjack cheese and fixings on a Dutch crunch roll), The Round-Up (turkey, bacon, avocado, havarti cheese and fixings on a Ciabatta roll) and the Thanksgiving-themed The Paint (turkey, cranberry sauce, cream cheese, stuffing and fixings on a French roll).
There is also a selection of warm paninis which includes the dessert offering The Friesian (Nutella, cream cheese and sea salt on a squaw bread) and entree salads ($9.75 to $10.25). Sandwiches hot or cold typically run run $5.99 to $9.99 for a 6-inch and $11.99 to $14.99 for a 12-inch. They’ll soon have a kids menu and student specials, as well.
For those with bottomless appetites, the restaurant will roll out The Clydesdale, an at least two-pound behemoth with turkey, ham, roast beef, salami, bacon, cheddar and pepperjack cheese and all the fixings for $19.99. The meal is meant to be an in-restaurant eating challenge, so it won’t launch until dining rooms are opened.
Since debuting in late April the shop has only been offering its sandwiches, but starting next week they will begin serving up their full breakfast and frozen yogurt menus as well. They’ll start serving the sweet treats to the public this Saturday, May 9, after their Senior Day frozen yogurt giveaway. Then on Monday, May 11, they’ll launch the breakfast menu which includes breakfast sandwiches, bagels and avocado toast.
The shop will have six flavors of soft-serve frozen yogurt with 24 toppings to choose from. Oakdale High seniors with valid IDs can stop by the shop from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday to pick up a free cup.
Oakdale shop says thanks to community
They said the gesture is a way to show its gratitude to the community. Before opening they also delivered free sandwiches to essential workers in the community.
“We are here for the long haul. We want to be part of the community. We want to get to know people. We want to be a part of all that,” Rosaia said. “We are hearing so much about seniors and not being recognized right now and had this idea. We wanted to do a good thing for them because they deserve it.”
As for opening a restaurant during a pandemic, Rosaia said though there were challenges, they have no regrets and encourage others planning on opening to go ahead and take the leap. It’s among a handful of valley restaurants to open amid the outbreak, including Chick-fil-A in Manteca, Mango Crazy in Ceres, and Backwood Burgers in Oakdale.
“People are ordering, people are eating out. It may not be business as usual, but business is there,” she said. “So I’d suggest they move forward.”
The Corral Sandwich Shop, at 730 West F St. in Oakdale, is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Saturday currently, which will change to 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. starting May 11. For more information call 209-322-3512 or visit www.facebook.com/thecorralsandwichshop.
This story was originally published May 2, 2020 at 3:05 PM.
