Littlejohn’s has returned. The iconic Corner sandwich shop reopened April 15 in its storefront on University Avenue after a four-year closure. Their largely unadvertised “soft launch” welcomed students and Charlottesville residents to the refurbished deli, which — despite some modern touches — preserves the memory of the original shop. To maintain the journalistic integrity of our food subsection, we ordered $70 worth of sandwiches and sides to keep our readers informed — and our bellies full. We thoroughly enjoyed our four sandwiches, and we recommend a visit. The revived Littlejohn’s presents a delicious and conveniently located, albeit pricey, food spot that gives patrons a taste of old and new.
From 1976 to 2020, Littlejohn’s was a longtime staple for students until the pandemic woefully forced its closure. Sammy’s On The Corner — a Philadelphia cheesesteak shop — took over the storefront briefly before shutting down the summer of 2022. The following year, Class of 1994 alumnus Bill Smyth joined forces with business partners Stefan Friedman and Dain North to resurrect his favorite college sandwich spot. After seven months of restoration and preparation, Smyth’s dream became a reality, and the legacy of Littlejohn’s now lives on.
Littlejohn’s is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Sunday “until further notice,” per a sign on their door. The original shop had longer hours, and after tasting the food we understood why — the sandwiches would make for the perfect late-night bite.
We walked into Littlejohn’s at 2 p.m. to discover a substantial late-lunch crowd waiting on their orders. 80s rock music played over the speakers, bringing patrons back to the deli’s heyday. The restaurant’s loyalty to the University was clear, with several menu items named after local heroes and pictures of Virginia sports teams adorning the walls. Even within the first weeks of reopening, the place felt lived-in and well-established.
We spent 10 minutes studying the extensive menu offerings on the black board above the counter. Once we had chosen our selection, we placed our orders under the familiar neon “Order Here” sign at their new electronic kiosks. We added four sandwiches and one side to our cart, and our eyes widened at the total of $71.48. The menu did not list prices, so the steep cost of our lunch was a surprise.
We started with the Five Easy Pieces sandwich, one of the items from the pre-pandemic Littlejohn’s, and we quickly realized why it was kept on the menu. Each bite packed a nice balance of classic deli delights — honey ham, smoked turkey, Muenster cheese and crisp bacon. A slathering of 1,000 island dressing and herb mayo added a creamy sweetness, and the slaw added some crunch. Pumpernickel was a fantastic choice of bread — its distinct flavor was present, but it didn’t overpower the rest of the components. All of the ingredients and their proportions seemed intentional, and we later agreed that it was the best sandwich of the day.
Next, we tried the Steak and Cheese sub. Mozzarella and provolone cheese melted over chopped rib-eye steak and caramelized onions. Shredded iceberg lettuce and sliced tomato offered cool, refreshing complements to the warm base of the sandwich. The amount of herb mayo on the bread was a bit overwhelming, an issue compounded by the relatively small amount of steak. We were disappointed that we had paid $18.99 for so little rib-eye — it honestly tasted more like a Mayo and Cheese sandwich.
We bounced back from the Steak and Cheese with the Kyle Guy sandwich. The pile of honey ham, smoked turkey and cheddar scored major points with us — the hefty layers redeemed the smidgen of steak on the sub. The simple, nostalgic pairing of deli meat and cheese brought us back to elementary school lunches in the best way. The contents of the sandwich came under the crunch of toasted wheat bread, which enhanced the overall texture.
The Steak and Cheese and the Kyle Guy both came with a pickle on the side, which we used as a palate cleanser. The pickle delivered a nice punch of acid, but the texture was a bit strange — tough and crunchy on the outside yet soft on the inside. We agreed that the pickle wasn’t a big dill — pun intended.
We ended our sandwich tasting with a bang — the Nuclear Sub, the sandwich that inspired Smyth to bring back Littlejohn’s. The sub was loaded with a pile of barbecue chicken that was at once sweet, smokey and spicy. A handful of creamy slaw complemented the chicken and relieved some of its heat. The mass of chicken and slaw spilled out of the weak confines of the sub roll, which prompted a slew of napkins and careful, hunched-over-the-table bites. We wished that the turkey and Muenster cheese had a larger presence on the sub — the singular slices of each were submerged in the chicken. However, the flavors balanced each other well, showing why this sandwich has always been a Littlejohn’s favorite — it really blew us out of the water.
We ended our lunch with Shirley’s Macaroni Salad, named for North’s mother who perfected the recipe. The salad made for a light conclusion to our meal, which we appreciated after our strikingly dense Nuclear Sub. The macaroni noodles softened into the mayonnaise, and the chopped veggies — tomato, gherkin and cucumber — added a welcome crunch.
Upon finishing our food, we agreed that Littlejohn’s has plenty to offer University students in need of a yummy bite to eat, whether it be in between classes or for a grab-and-go dinner on the walk home. With no shortage of menu items, the deli has something for everyone, including meatless options like the East Village vegan sandwich and the vegetarian Four-Cheese Sub.
Averaging around $15 per sandwich, Littlejohn’s lies on the pricier side of the local sandwich market. However, it is worth the visit to relish in a decades-old Charlottesville tradition. The revamped space and updated menu give new life to the Corner institution, and we don’t doubt that the shop will continue to stand the test of time.
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