Augusta Eats: Columbia County sandwich shop would like you to sit down as soon as possible

Joe Hotchkiss, Augusta Chronicle
·2 min read
Jason Parrish stands outside Mosh Pit Eats, which he and his wife, Amber, hope to expand into an adjacent storefront to add between 30 and 40 seats for indoor dining, Friday, May 24, 2024.
Jason Parrish stands outside Mosh Pit Eats, which he and his wife, Amber, hope to expand into an adjacent storefront to add between 30 and 40 seats for indoor dining, Friday, May 24, 2024.

A wall is all that stands in the way of a Columbia County sandwich place having indoor restaurant seating.

Actually, Mosh Pit Eats in Martinez is looking at two walls. One is the actual masonry wall separating it from the former longtime location of retro gift shop Tie Dye Rosie's, which closed last fall.

The other wall is made out of red tape. Before Mosh Pit can knock down Rosie's shared wall to open a space that can sit between 30 and 40 restaurant customers, Columbia County must grant regulatory approval.

When you drive past the commercial strip at 111 Old Evans Rd., Mosh Pit appears bigger, but for now it's just on the outside.

Business has stayed steady and strong, although co-owner Jason Parrish said "I have a lot of people walk away because they can't sit down."

That means for the moment, Mosh Pit Eats – like real mosh pits filled with frenetic dancers at live-rock shows – is still standing-room-only.

The Sister Rosetta Reuben at Mosh Pit Eats, with its crunchy homemade coleslaw, is named for Rosetta Sharpe, the gospel singer and musician credited by many as "the godmother of rock 'n roll."
The Sister Rosetta Reuben at Mosh Pit Eats, with its crunchy homemade coleslaw, is named for Rosetta Sharpe, the gospel singer and musician credited by many as "the godmother of rock 'n roll."

Parrish and his wife, Amber, opened Mosh Pit Eats in November 2021 as an outgrowth of their still-thriving catering business. They named and decorated their walk-in storefront as a tribute to two of their driving passions: food and live rock music.

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If the inside decorations don't disclose hints, the menu likely will. Many of the sandwiches and wraps share names with people, places and songs familiar to rock fans.

So you don't have to be a fan of the metal band Queensr?che to order a Jet City Woman, a wrap that's Mosh Pit's take on chicken Cordon Bleu: chicken, ham and spinach with Gouda cheese and honey mustard in a flour wrap.

If you order a meatball sub at Mosh Pit, it's Breaking the Law, after the hit single by Judas Priest. It adds pepperoni, shredded mozzarella cheese, red onions and banana peppers on a hoagie roll.

A wall in Mosh Pit Eats is filled floor-to-ceiling with rock-themed keepsakes sharing shelf space with the business' selections of bagged fresh-roasted coffee.
A wall in Mosh Pit Eats is filled floor-to-ceiling with rock-themed keepsakes sharing shelf space with the business' selections of bagged fresh-roasted coffee.

For now, the wall waiting to come down is a wall filled not only with rock-themed decorations but also a commitment to community involvement. Mosh Pit also offers bags of fresh-roasted coffee in several flavorsand with customized labels, which people buy individually or organizations buy in bulk for resale at fundraisers.

Mosh Pit Eats is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Augusta Eats: Rock-themed sandwich shop eyes expansion for seating

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