‘It’s like home base.’ Snohomish sandwich shop offers an intentional spread
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, June 3, 2026
EVERETT — For Heidi Mann, two things make a good sandwich: fresh ingredients and a good flavor profile.
After owning two national sandwich franchise locations, Mann and her husband, Karam, decided they wanted their own restaurant, where they could have a hand in the decisions, she said. When the 1206 1st St. location in Snohomish became available, they jumped on it.
“Within three years, we completely made it ours,” Mann said.
After starting with four employees in 2023, Heidi’s Sandwichboard has grown to 16. The restaurant prioritizes no artificial colors, flavors or ingredients, with a selection ranging from classics like the tuna melt to Thanksgiving-served handheld with their Heidi’s Turkey Cranberry sandwich.
“I just love that sandwich,” she said. “I had something similar to it, probably 20 years ago, and it’s just always stuck in my mind.”
Making a menu-worthy sandwich takes time. Creating, sourcing and taste testing a sandwich usually takes a couple of months, Mann said.
For Heidi’s Turkey Cranberry, Mann picked from 20 different types of sprouts and hunted for the perfect sweet bread.
“It was just figuring out and tasting and tasting and tasting until I felt that it was the perfect match,” she said.
Now, Heidi’s Sandwhichboard is growing to be more than a sandwich shop, with services like catering and afternoon tea.
On the first and third Sunday of each month, the restaurant hosts an afternoon tea service by reservation only. Attendees get unlimited tea and dine off a three-tiered serving tray sporting finger sandwiches and freshly baked goods.
“My afternoon tea service just brings a lot of joy to me,” Mann said. “It ends up being a lot of older people, moms bringing their daughters in, or grandmas bringing their children in, and I just, I love all the stories that I hear.”
One Heidi’s Sandwichboard regular is Dena VanDuine, who has been visiting the restaurant since it opened.
“When my mom comes to town, we always meet at Heidi’s,” VanDuine told The Daily Herald. “It’s like home base.”
In her work as a real estate agent, VanDuine will take her clients to meet at Heidi’s because it embodies the welcoming and warm energy of the Snohomish community, she said in a message.
As far as what to order, VanDuine would recommend the Charli-cado, stuffed with turkey, avocado and various fresh vegetables, and to sample the soup they offer that day.
“If you love soup, it’s nice just to have a home-cooked soup and intentional sandwiches,” she said.
If you go
Heidi’s Sandwichboard is open Wednesday through Sunday until 5 p.m. For early birds, Heidi’s Sandwich also serves breakfast from 8-11 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. On Wednesday and Sunday, the restaurant opens at 10 a.m.
To learn more or make a reservation for afternoon tea, visit heidissandwichboard.com.
Jenna Millikan: 425-339-3035; jenna.millikan@heraldnet.com; X: @JennaMillikan
