Opening a sandwich shop had always been a far-off dream for Countryside Market owner Lisa McClarren; ever since she was a kid growing up in a big Portuguese family, she imagined sharing her culinary creations — many of them lovingly passed down from her nana — with those around her.

One year ago, that dream became a reality. Countryside Market, a sandwich and deli shop on American Legion Highway, opened its doors for the first time — and McClarren hasn’t looked back since.

“This is just something I’ve always been passionate about,” she said while discussing her vast history with cooking. “I don’t have a culinary degree or anything, but I’ve just been cooking for so long ... things have been picking up more and more since we opened last year, it’s really good.”

Before Countryside, McClarren worked in marketing for Sysco, a wholesale restaurant distributor. Thirty-five years in, her position became eliminated and she was let go — it was then that she began to seriously consider following her true passion.

“I was a woman in my 50s,” she noted. “Nobody really wants to hire you in your 50s. I [was back to the drawing board], but convinced my husband that this is what I want to do. And he agreed!”

Despite the absence of more technical culinary training, McClarren’s cooking chops put the proof in the pudding — her customers just keep coming back for more. “I have lots of regulars coming in every single day,” she attested. “But we’ve also got new people coming in for the first time.”

While the popular items vary, the porchetta hoagie, countryside club, and steak and cheese are just a few to choose from. McClarren’s favorite? “The braised short rib quesadilla.”

With one year under her belt, McClarren is excited for the future of her shop.

“I’m just hoping to keep on growing and meet more people, maybe someday to expand in size. But right now, I’m just happy having more and more people coming and tasting our food, updating our menus, and putting out what people are looking for.”

“We’re having a blast doing this, there’s just so many awesome people,” she beamed. “The support from everybody around here is just so unbelievable ... I just want to feed people and make them happy, because that makes me happy.”