Ben Friedman (left) and Brad Gillis (right), Homegrown co-founders at new Mercer Island location

Homegrown Sustainable Sandwich Shop opened its eighth location today on Mercer Island, bringing co-founders Ben Friedman and Brad Gillis back to their roots.

Both Friedman and Gillis grew up on Mercer Island and have known each other since Kindergarten.

“When we decided to open on Mercer Island, we spread the word using the hashtag #homecoming,” Friedman said. “We feel like we are in high school again. It’s great to be here.”

Homegrown’s menu includes an extensive sandwich selection, soups and salads, and Stumptown organic coffees and teas. They also have a breakfast and children’s menu. All produce, milk, and eggs are organic, and local when possible. Meats are all-natural (no hormones or antibiotics) and pasture-raised.

Sustainability is at the core of Homegrown’s mission, and it’s a value that Friedman and Gillis believe Islanders embrace too.

“Mercer Island is one of those communities where people think about the way they eat and buy local and organic foods at the grocery store and that’s the way they eat at home,” Friedman said. “We want to make it easy for people to make those choices when they are out too. We provide delicious, healthy fast food with lots of convenience. We want to fill the healthy fast food void on Mercer Island.”

Homegrown has moved into the former location of Stopysky’s Deli, next to Island Books in the Islandia Shopping Center next to the North End Fire Station.

The sandwich shop will celebrate its Grand Opening on Wednesday, January 7th, and will be open from 7 am to 8 pm. Regular business hours will be 7 am to 8 pm, Monday through Sunday.

Visit Homegrown’s website at eathomegrown.com