When Don Newcomb, Debra Bryson, and Chris Newcomb opened the first Newk's (short for Newcomb's) back in 2004, they hoped to move away from the American traditions of fast food—that is, food that came out fast, but wasn't very fresh. So the foodies created a place that quickly dished out gourmet sandwiches dotted with pesto, crisp mixed-green salads loaded with housemade chicken salad, hand-rolled pizzas, and gooey mac 'n' cheese with asiago, white cheddar, parmesan, swiss, and Newk's signature pimiento cheese. It even has a variety of grab-and-go meals, including sandwiches, made-from-scratch soups, and pasta salads.

Since then, Newk's has expanded to a long list of locations across the U.S. The menu now boasts 600-calorie options that are at least 600 times more satisfying than a glass of water. It also caters to patrons with food sensitivities with its allergen menu tool.