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The Toaster Oven became the newest choice in Southside eateries Monday morning, opening its doors on Telegraph Avenue.

Next to Chipotle Mexican Grill and across the street from Sam’s Market, the Telegraph shop is the first East Bay location of a Bay Area chain that sells sandwiches, soups, salads and desserts at multiple locations in San Francisco. According to Nicholas Davidson, the Telegraph location’s manager, The Toaster Oven boasts quality sandwiches at a good price.

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Though the business is close to Subway, Smart Alec’s and multiple other sandwich-serving restaurants in the Southside area, Davidson said he does not consider the other businesses competitors.

“We haven’t tried to poach customers,” Davidson said. “We know there is so much offered around.”

But Jorge Mandoca, a manager at the Subway on Bancroft Way, said he does not understand why another sandwich shop opened in an area already populated with similar establishments.

However, according to Miguel Sanchez, general manager of Smart Alec’s — which is located near the corner of Telegraph and Durant Avenue —  there is always competition in the restaurant business.

“All you can do is keep your quality up (and) keep your service friendly,” Sanchez said.

According to Davidson, the shop has not done very much marketing other than fliers and word-of-mouth but has already seen many customers.

Soumya Karlamangla of The Daily Californian contributed to this report.

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