Everything about Heister's Grill screams local, right down to the sign next to the cash register that reads "There's no place like Arbutus."

And, if Arbutus native and owner Leslie Heis has anything to say about it, her hometown is in for a food revolution.

"I love Arbutus, but if you don't want pizza, Chinese food or subs, there's no place for carryout," Heis said. "I was tired of going to Catonsville to get a decent sandwich."

Heis called her new restaurant's selection of sandwiches "comfortable gourmet."

"It's a notch above, but it's not something where you can't pronounce what's in the sandwiches," said Heis, whose new enterprise had its grand opening Oct. 3.

She offers sandwiches, such as the Tiger Steak, which layers steak, lettuce, red onion and homemade sauce on grilled bread.

The sandwiches cost between $6 and $9 and come with a pickle, pasta salad seasoned with Old Bay and hand-sliced meat.

"I really feel it's time for Arbutus to pick it up a notch or two," said Heis, who graduated from Lansdowne High School in 1978. "We should start getting a little more trendy."

Even though Heis admits much of her menu may not be kid friendly, she boasts grilled sandwiches stuffed with macaroni and cheese that should appeal to kids and adults alike.

For dessert, there are huge slices of cake she has tagged "cake shares," because the portion is often too big for just one person.

Given her love of the community, Heis strives to keep every aspect of the restaurant local.

She said the contractors who renovated her restaurant, her employees and even much of the food come from area businesses.

Heis teamed up with Art and Cake bakery, which also opened a new location across the street from Heister's Grill on Oct. 3, to supply bread for the sandwiches.

The plan for Heis' Arbutus eatery germinated two decades ago.

Over the years Heis meticulously filled four journals with ideas for her restaurant.

Ed, her husband of 20 years, made sure the restaurant did not remain in the planning stages forever.

When he found out the building at 1405 Sulphur Spring Road had a vacancy, he went home, conferred with his wife and, five minutes later, bought it.

"Impulsive? Her? No," said Ed, who also graduated from Lansdowne High in 1978. "She makes great plans. She's been planning this for 20 years.

"I had to drag her along kicking and screaming when I made the impulsive move."

After initially having nerves about being overwhelmed, Heis said a couple of days before the restaurant's grand opening that she felt less apprehensive.

An encouraging showing from the soft opening which started Sept. 20 also helped calm any butterflies.

On Sept. 27, Wynnewood resident Betty Peterson, who worked in the building for 25 years when it was a beauty shop, hoped to become Heis' first customer.

Even though that didn't work out, she eagerly awaited a Blue Steak sandwich.

"The menu looks wonderful, it really does," Peterson said, noting she plans to come once or twice a week. "I just hope they have as many happy memories as I did in this shop."

One of the advantages of the shop, Heis said, was its exposure during rush hour and its parking lot.

With enough people stopping by, Heis will accomplish her goal.

"I just want to provide good, wholesome, comfortable food and, hopefully, kick-start a food revolution in Arbutus," Heis said.

The restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.