Get it Fresh at the Stoppe

Beaumont’s the Sandwich Stoppe has been in the business of burgers since 1999. Family owned and operated, the tiny Stoppe once served as a gas station, and its white walls are hung with pictures of loyal customers and license plates. On shelves sit replicas of old cars, a VW Bus, and a Woody.

The kitchen is roughly twenty-five feet by ten and cramped. Despite the size, chefs Miles Knapp and Mauro Herrera claim to make anywhere from forty to fifty burgers a day. “Our burgers are homemade, just like you would make at home in your kitchen, except…well, bigger,” said Carrie Ugapo, the sister of current owner Lamese Ugapo.

When the Ugapos purchased the Stoppe from friends in 2009, they took burgers back to the basics. There are no heating lamps in the Stoppe’s small kitchen. While there is a steady stream of regulars, they make each burger fresh. The Stoppe has garnered a reputation for its fresh food and large, generous helpings. The Stoppe uses only 100% handmade patties and cuts their own deli meat.

When a customer asked, “What do you recommend?” Knapp pointed out a few of the “more popular” sandwiches. The Black Friday—turkey and spinach served with cranberry sauce—and the Walt—assorted meats, Swiss cheese and avocado—keep people coming back. Teriyaki, Junkyard and BBQ burgers are also common orders. Carrie Ugapo suggested the homemade Chocolate Cake Shake from their list of “soon to be famous milkshakes.” It lived up to her recommendation. “We also have banana, Oreo, and strawberry cheesecake,” Ugapo said.

Customer Amanda Soto of Redlands spoke highly of the restaurant.

“The great thing about the Stoppe is you can pretty much have anything you want on a burger,” she said. Her boyfriend, Hesham McQueen, added, “It’s good—and cheap too. I won’t be breaking the bank anytime soon.”

Carrie Ugapo enjoys the time she spends at the Stoppe.

“I love my job," she said. "I like talking to people.”

Friendly, laid-back, and delicious, the Sandwich Stoppe serves old fashioned burgers to a world in need of a good meal. In the words of one hungry patron back for another round, “I ate a burger here once and it was great.”