After years of trailers, pop-ups and shuffled storefronts, Earl of Sandwich has finally settled down. The chain's permanent two-story home on the west side of the Downtown Disney District officially opened at 5 p.m. today, giving the "world's greatest hot sandwich" a forever address tucked between Din Tai Fung and D-Lander. Only the ground-floor quick-service counter is open for now — Gordon Ramsay at The Carnaby, the gastropub planned for the second floor, has not opened yet. And while the doors are open today, Earl of Sandwich has a formal grand opening celebration set for Wednesday, July 15.

The long road to a permanent home

If it feels like Earl of Sandwich has been playing musical chairs across Downtown Disney, that's because it has. The original location opened in 2012 in the former Compass Books space, then closed in 2018 to make way for a fourth resort hotel that was ultimately cancelled. That kicked off a years-long stretch of temporary homes, including a pop-up trailer near the Star Wars Trading Post that debuted in 2024 and a larger interim spot in the old La Brea Bakery building. That interim location wrapped up its run in 2025 to clear the way for the long-awaited Porto's Bakery & Café. Today's opening finally closes the book on that purgatory of temporary moves.

What's open today

The ground floor is a familiar, quick-service Earl of Sandwich, serving the menu fans already know on fresh-baked artisan bread. The headliner remains the Original 1762, built on tender Angus roast beef with sharp cheddar and a creamy horseradish sauce. You'll also find The Full Montagu (a hearty turkey-and-roast-beef stack), The Earl's Club, and newer favorites like chipotle chicken avocado, holiday turkey and Caprese. Sides and extras run from pizza bread and artisan soups to mac and cheese, potato wedges and tater tots, and with daily hours starting at 8 a.m., there's a full breakfast lineup too — breakfast sandwiches, breakfast bowls, breakfast tots and oatmeal.

Two new features set this location apart. The Carvery slices premium pastrami fresh throughout the day; its whole roasted pastrami sandwich comes piled with sauerkraut, Swiss, dijonnaise and Thousand Island on your choice of white or rye bread, served with a pickle, for $18.99. There's also The Pub, pouring draft beers, wines, frozen cocktails and refreshing seasonal beverages alongside the usual grab-and-go chips and bottled drinks.

The space itself is a step up from the trailer years. Warm globe pendant lights, terrazzo floors with a ribbon of Earl-of-Sandwich blue, and herringbone wood paneling set the tone, while a bright red soffit runs above the order counter beneath the brand's "world's greatest hot sandwich" banner. Themed touches lean into the story: a "Sandwich Charter" feature wall, a "History of the Sandwich" pillar, blue geometric-tile booths, and framed British pop-art and Union Jack prints that quietly tee up the British theme heading upstairs.

Earl of Sandwich founder Robert Earl said the goal was to do more than open another shop — he wanted "to create a destination worthy of the Downtown Disney District," reimagining the brand for the district's new era while keeping its heritage and value intact.

The name carries some real history, too. The brand is run by descendants of John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, whose 1762 habit of eating meat between two slices of bread — reportedly so he wouldn't have to leave the card table — gave the sandwich its name.

Still to come: Gordon Ramsay at The Carnaby

The big addition upstairs is still on the horizon. Gordon Ramsay at The Carnaby is a table-service gastropub inspired by London's Carnaby Street and the 1960s "British Invasion" era, complete with plush interiors, British pop-art touches and a soundtrack of U.K. rock and pop. The menu is set to lean into classic British fare, including Ramsay's signature beef Wellington, fish and chips, and sticky toffee pudding. Plans also call for a bar area, signature booths, two outdoor terraces, and live music after dark on select evenings.

For now, though, the upstairs remains closed, and no opening date has been announced. We'll update ThemeParkIQ as soon as one is.

The building and the location

The new two-story building sits on the west side of Downtown Disney, between Din Tai Fung and D-Lander. Earl of Sandwich anchors the ground floor, with Gordon Ramsay at The Carnaby signed above it on the second level. The white facade leans into the retro, midcentury-modern Googie styling that has defined Downtown Disney's ongoing transformation, accented by a colorful breeze-block wall with hidden-Mickey cutouts and a vintage-style Downtown Disney sign. It's a noticeable step up from the trailer era, and a clear signal that Earl of Sandwich is here to stay.