Everybody likes a great sandwich

7:57 p.m. June 24, 2025

HALEY PAYNE ROBERTS
MCO Senior Staff Writer

Food trucks have become a hot commodity across the country. Lynchburg has seen its fair share of food trucks recently, all of which bring something unique to both locals and visitors. The Sammich Shack’s owner, Lisa Womack, has been offering twists on many people’s favorite lunch item – sandwiches – since 2023, and her journey is unlike any other. Some stories just stick with you. Let me tell you, folks, this is one of them.

Before The Sammich Shack came to be, Womack worked in the food industry. Then, she received news that would change the trajectory of her life. “I worked with a lot of people doing things for other people and being in the business for restaurants and things like that for many years.

“I was diagnosed with acute cystic leukemia in 2021 and went through a long battle with cancer and chemo and things like that,” Womack said. “I realized that life is too short, and I didn’t want to work for somebody else. I knew that once I got better, I had to do something for myself, and this food truck was the first thing that popped to mind.”

Womack stayed true to herself. With some help from some fine friends, her dream became a reality. “I love working with people; I love working with food. After getting better, I had to do it for myself, and this is what we started. I literally sat down with some friends one night, and we got to talking because they wanted to do something. They wanted to start something new for themselves, too,” she said.

“I thought, ‘You know what? Let’s open a food truck.’ They were like, ‘Well, we’re not really big on food.’ I said, ‘But I am! Let’s open it. I’ll run it, and we’ll take care of it.’ Months went by, and we never talked about it again. They called me one day and asked what I was doing. I said, ‘I’m just sitting here.’ And they said, ‘Guess what we’re doing.’ I asked, and they said, ‘We’re sitting in your food truck!’ So, thanks to some great friends, my journey started, and we took off.”

Sandwiches are a staple in the American lunch cuisine. Despite their popularity, Womack recognized a need for a sandwich restaurant and seized the opportunity. “We started deciding what we wanted to do, how we wanted to put things together, and what kind of food truck we wanted to do,” she said. And who doesn’t like a good sandwich?”

Featuring a carefully cultivated menu, Womack and her team are serving up almost every kind of sandwich you can think of and beyond. “It’s the things we love. We do anything from classic sandwiches to specialty sandwiches to twists on classic sandwiches. It’s things that you would normally see in your own home as far as the classics go. For specialties, it’s a lot of grilled sandwiches that we put a twist into,” she said.

Versatility is The Sammich Shack’s greatest virtue – something Womach appreciates as she puts smiles on people’s faces with her food. “My favorite thing about it is seeing all the customers and seeing how happy our sandwiches make them. We love watching the expressions on their faces when they take a bite in front of us. It brings so much joy to me to be able to see that what we’ve put our hard work into brings joy to others as well,” she said.

Though the food truck covers many events, Womack most appreciates connecting with local community members as she makes her weekly rounds, including The Caverns in Pelham, Tullahoma (her hometown), Lynchburg, Winchester, Manchester, and Murfreesboro. “Being able to travel to those different places and seeing different people is awesome,” she said.

Womack beat cancer, but she still holds the community of survivors close to her heart and does not hesitate to serve them through her passion. “One of our biggest things is cancer benefits. I will pick up one of those, no matter what. It’s close to my heart after going through it,” she said.

“Being able to provide something and give back to a community of people that are in need in that way makes a world of difference.”

Now, The Sammich Shack can be seen every week in Lynchburg at First Community Bank. Womack appreciates Moore County and its warm embrace. “The community has been so great to us. They’ve welcomed us. If we end up not coming for a few weeks for some reason, we start getting phone calls and messages through Facebook asking where we are and when we’ll be back. That alone is just fantastic,” said Womack.

“We don’t get that in a lot of places, but Lynchburg has welcomed us with open arms. All the girls at the bank have been fantastic; they’ll come out and eat every time. It’s just a great location for the locals. We get people from Jack Daniel’s and Woodards. We love Lynchburg.”

After diving into the food truck industry, Womack has developed an appreciation for the effort and care that goes into serving. “The food truck business is a little harder than I expected it to be. It’s a lot more work than people imagine and is definitely different than being in a brick-and-mortar, which is a bit more laid back.,” she said.

“I’m literally working seven days a week. Even on my days off, I’m at home, working and getting ready for the next day. We do a lot of homemade items. A lot of our sauces and sides are homemade.

“We smoke our own bologna. There’s a lot of work and time that goes into that. It takes a couple of hours to just get set up because we want everything to be fresh,” Womack said.

“It takes us about two hours to actually prep before we can even open the window. Sometimes, we have people that come way early, and we try to take care of them the best we can.”

Womack is grateful for the fun and satisfaction derived from The Sammich Shack and its loyal customers. “We always greatly appreciate anyone that comes out. We love seeing new faces, and we love seeing our regulars,” she said.

“We’re just out here doing the best we can, wanting to see the smiles on people’s faces. We greatly appreciate anyone who comes out, and we encourage people to give us a try. If you’ve never been before, come try us at least once. Try something different – grab a classic that’s got a twist and enjoy it for a day.”

If you’re looking for suggestions next time you stop by, Womack has got you covered with recommendations. “I’ve started using cauliflower bread crusts for my sandwiches. I’m not a cauliflower person or a vegetable person, to be honest. But that crust has been great,” she said.

“Our steak and cheese paninis are amazing. Our cave club is our top seller,” Womack offered. “We sell them as a classic club on grilled sourdough, and it’s taken off like crazy.

“Our sloppy joe grilled cheese is awesome. I make homemade pimento cheese, so that sandwich is so good. Our jalapeno popper grilled cheese and burgers are delicious. The Italian is also really good. I don’t want to toot my own horn, but we have a really good menu. I can’t complain about anything we have,” Womack said.

Next time you see The Sammich Shack at First Community Bank, stop by to see Womack and her team. You’ll be sure to leave with a full stomach and a smiling face.