Welcome to Blimpie: Sandwich takes name of sub chain for a day

By Nate Giarnese

Motorists steering left today off Route 25 south of Tamworth will cross over the Bearcamp River and head into Blimpie.Sandwich becomes Blimpie this morning, when this 250-year-old town of 1,330, named for the renowned bread-and-meat mixing Earl, hands itself over to the national sandwich chain for National Sandwich Day. Sandwiches are close to our hearts, being from Sandwich, New Hampshire, said Sandwich selectman Carroll Bewley. Thats why were happy to join Blimpie restaurants in celebrating National Sandwich Day by renaming our town Blimpie for the day.Selectmen will make the proclamation at 10:15 at town hall. Blimpie and its spokes-sub, Blimpie Guy, afterward will treat residents of the historic town to free lunch, and present a $250 check to a Sandwich children's center.Sandwich was chartered in 1763, named after English Lord John Montagu. Montagu, the fourth Earl of Sandwich, is widely credited with ordering a servant to slice up bread to hold his meat, making the world's first sandwich.But if the English lay claim to naming it, the French say, for years earlier country laborers had packed meat or fish between sliced bread before a long day in the fields.Sandwich, New Hampshire, was picked after a nationwide search for towns named Sandwich, town hall staff said."We go beyond the definition of a traditional sandwich. Its not just a sandwich, its a Blimpie. So, its only fitting that Sandwich, New Hampshire be renamed Blimpie, New Hampshire, said Mark Mears, chief marketing officer for Blimpie International.Customers who say I Want My Blimpie" today at Blimpie shops across the country will get a free sub with the purchase of any sandwich. There are no Blimpies in Sandwich.The chain will also donate a portion of all gourmet cookie sales up to $15,000 from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31 to Americas Second Harvest The Nations Food Bank Network. Donations will be earmarked for hurricane relief.