Folks, a new sandwich shop just hit the downtown State College area.

Convenient Smoke ‘N’ Subs Express opened for business last week in the former location of Subway on South Pugh Street. As the newest sandwich joint on the block, we headed over to Pugh Street to check out its sandwich offerings and wash it down with a nice vape. Here’s what we thought of Convenient Smoke ‘N’ Subs Express.

Walking into Convenient Smoke, fellow staffer McKenzie Clauss and I didn’t know exactly what to expect. I don’t know why, but there was a part of me that thought it would be purely a store with a sandwich table and a wall of vapes. McKenzie also was imagining something similar to a Sheetz dupe, but we weren’t too sure going in.

The shop, though, was primarily a convenience store, offering a wide selection of nicotine products and a selection of items you’d expect from a regular convenience mart: chips, soda, and ping pong balls. There was also a good selection of useful household items you might need in a pinch.

We weren’t there for the convenience selection, though. We went to try a sandwich. Maybe our expectations were too high, but both McKenzie and I thought it would be more “sub-y.” There were five different sub options to choose from. With “sub” literally being in the name of the convenience store, we expected there to be more options.

Our order was a 10-inch “Philly Steak & Cheese,” with all the add-ons — cheese, steak, lettuce, tomato, onion, and mayonnaise.

As our sub was being prepared, we headed over to the register to pay for our food, but our meal wasn’t yet complete. Only one-half of the experience was complete. We still needed to pick out a vape.

The sheer number of nicotine options was overwhelming. There were just *so* many different brands and flavors to choose from. McKenzie pretty much chose at random for the vape component of our meal but settled on BC500’s “Miami Mint” flavor. As we departed Convenient Smoke ‘N’ Subs Express, a sub and a vape set us back $32.84.

We got home and we had a full meal on our hands. First up, the 10″ Philly cheesesteak.

It was gas. End the article right here. McKenzie and I were skeptical of the sandwich in general, especially because the store just opened, and we weren’t sure what to expect. Thankfully, it ended up being fantastic. If all of its sandwich options are like the one we received Thursday, this is a great place to stop and grab a quick bite.

The best comparison to make is that this sandwich was similar to one you’d get from the dining hall, but still ended up being better than something you’d get from a Subway. The ingredients all worked well together. I mean, it’s a cheesesteak. A tried and true classic.

McKenzie, as the resident 21+ individual on this endeavor, said that the mint flavor of the vape was good, but did leave a rubbing alcohol aftertaste. At $23, the price is on par with other offerings in the State College area.

At the beginning of this review, I thought that the value proposition of Convenient Smoke ‘N’ Subs Express was strange. It’s a sandwich stop in the place where another sandwich stop once stood. However, McKenzie and I both agreed that we see the value in Convienent Smoke ‘N’ Subs Express. For lack of a better word, it’s convenient and offers a lot more to the downtown area than just a place to buy a vape and get a quick sandwich.

That being said, it also does those two jobs pretty well and is worth stopping by if you’re ever in the market for a sandwich, a vape, or both at the same time.

For those interested, Convenient Smoke ‘N’ Subs Express is open from 8 a.m. to midnight every day in its location at 300 S. Pugh St. as your one-stop sandwich and nicotine destination.