Mt. Airy resident and chef Nathan Baynes’ food cart, “2 Street Sammies,” is a Northwest Philadelphia landmark as much as the Water Tower or McNally’s. His cart has fed people at Supper Sessions in Mt. Airy for at least the last three summers as well as at the Chestnut Hill street fairs, Mt. Airy Day, Mt. Airy Village Fair, High Point Cafe anniversary celebration this summer, the Manayunk Street Fair, Wissahickon Brewing Company in East Falls, and Penn Charter High School, among others.

Over the years, he has been asked countless times, “When are you going to open your own permanent brick-and-mortar place?”

That question has now been answered. Baynes has opened a permanent food stall in the new Reading Terminal-like Ridge Hall, a food court featuring 10 stations where food is made to order in front of your face at 15 S. Ridge Ave. in Ambler. The 14,000-square-foot, 150-year-old building, three years in the planning and conversion into the food court, was previously a factory and then an engineering firm.

The complex also includes the second location of Manayunk’s Twisted Gingers Brewing Company, which serves wine and cocktails in addition to their freshly brewed beer. One of the other vendors is Marie Thorpe, owner of Pierogie Kitchen, formerly just off Henry Avenue in Roxborough. On the second floor of the massive complex is an outdoor deck for parties and corporate events with live music.

Daniel DeCastro, owner of Ridge Hall, whose company, DeCastro Enterprises, acquired the property in 2023, told the Local last week why he selected 2 Street Sammies to be a part of the new food court.

“A few years ago,” he said, “I was hosting a grand opening at a building I completed called the Ambler Annex, a small-business artisan hub of entrepreneurs. I asked Forest and Main Brewery, a tenant of mine, to help me out with some food trucks for the event, and 2 Street Sammies happened to be one of them.

“I ordered his jerk chicken cheesesteak, took two bites and walked back and handed Nathan my card and said to him, ‘I am building something special in downtown Ambler, and you must be a part of it.’ He was my first signing. He embodied the Philly vibe and the Philly taste. I knew he was special and would be a staple of the family of restaurateurs I was putting together. He is one of my proudest signings into Ridge Hall, and I hope he will be a staple for many years to come.”

Russell Mahoney, the architect who designed Ridge Hall, added, “We chose to bring on Nate at 2 Street Sammies because he immediately impressed us. He came to the interview with outstanding sandwich samples and an incredible passion for his craft. Beyond that, he has deep roots in the Philadelphia sandwich scene, having been instrumental in the success of Paesano’s, a place I was always a big fan of. He is a natural fit for Ridge Hall. And things are going great so far. The vendors are all finding their footing, building momentum and producing excellent products. It’s been exciting to see the community and creativity come together under one roof.”

Baynes, who has lived in Mt. Airy for six years, grew up in lower Bucks County, graduating from Pennsbury High School. He attended Temple University as an elementary education major, also working as a server at Bucks County restaurants Macaroni Grill and Washington Crossing Inn. He joined the Air Force to help pay for college.

He spent eight years in the Air Force and National Guard, starting in 2000, serving in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan as an airplane runway mechanic.

“It was trying,” he said. “The environments had a total lack of color.”

After his military service, Baynes worked for several restaurants run by celebrated chef Peter McAndrews — Modo Mio, Rembrandt’s and Paesano’s — for a total of 11 years. He also opened a sandwich shop with McAndrews and lived just off Second Street in South Philadelphia. Thus, the name 2 Street Sammies (sandwiches), which he started in 2017 for outdoor festivals and fairs and private catering.

While at Paesano’s, Baynes won an area-wide hoagie competition sponsored by WIP Radio. He also won the 2025 Philadelphia Inquirer’s Philly Favorites competition for “Best Food Truck.”

“Business exploded after that,” Baynes said, “but I wanted people to know where to find me six days a week, so when this Ridge Hall opportunity came my way, I could not say no.”

Baynes has added salads and platters to his food cart menu. There are also vegetarian selections. “Our cheesesteak stands out,” he said. “I use brisket and roast it for 12 hours, serving it with roasted garlic mayo and Conshohocken baked rolls. Jerk chicken with roasted red pepper and garlic spinach with added spice is also popular. And I would like to mention my sidekick, Dan Alarcon, who is a real workhorse.” (My own favorites were the salad with toasted almonds, blueberries, vinaigrette and arugula, and the truffle bread panini with creamy brie cheese and cranberry marmalade.)

Baynes donates a portion of his proceeds to veterans’ charities, Philabundance and the Philadelphia Maternity Care Coalition.

“I want to make sure we are good role models,” he said, “not just for good food but for doing good. I want to do more than just make sandwiches.”

For more information, visit twostreetsammies.com. You can reach Len Lear at lenlear@chestnuthilllocal.com.