Photo by Jess Mancini Sherry Dugan, owner of Das Rookhaus at 2911 Dudley Ave., stands at the counter where she also makes sandwiches and subs. The shop is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

PARKERSBURG — A Parkersburg sub shop is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

Das Rookhaus was the idea of real estate agent Ed Byham, who believed a shop that featured smoked meats and cheeses would be a popular eatery in Parkersburg, says owner Sherry Dugan.

“He liked the idea of smoked meats and cheeses,” said Dugan, who became involved with the shop at the request of her father, Bill Ruehl, and 11 other stockholders.

She was in graduate school at West Virginia University and didn’t enjoy it.

“The next thing I knew they asked me if I’d like to run it,” Dugan said.

Photo by Jess Mancini Sherry Dugan of Das Rookhaus stands by the smoker where the sub shop smokes meats and cheeses.

Dugan didn’t anticipate it to be permanent, but she eventually bought out the other shareholders.

Das Rookhaus has been at several locations in Parkersburg, including one at the Dime Bank Building in Marietta, over the last four decades. The original location for the shop was at Emerson Avenue and 31st Street.

Upon the encouragement of her father, the recommendation was to try franchising the store, first by opening other locations, about 35 years ago, Dugan said. Among the new stores, Dugan opened Das Rookhauses on Market Street between Fourth and Fifth streets in the former Berman Jewelers and in Marietta.

It was a lot of work attempting to be in different places at the same time, according to Dugan. Dugan also served as a Parkersburg city councilman.

“So I decided it would be better to go down to one store,” Dugan said.

Photo by Jess Mancini Dugan stands in the kitchen of Das Rookhaus.

From Emerson Avenue, Dugan moved the store to Ohio Avenue where she stayed for 14 years. Around 2005 she moved into the bottom level of the North End Tavern, which was supposed to be temporary.

“Which turned into seven years,” she said.

Five years ago she moved from the N.E.T. to the present site at 2911 Dudley Ave.

“I’m not moving anymore,” she said. “I bought the property.”

What puts Das Rookhaus at the top of the sandwich line is it is the only shop in Parkersburg that hickory smokes meats and cheeses on site, Dugan said. A massive smoker is located at the rear of the restaurant.

Das Rookhaus has been smoking meats and cheeses since the shop opened 40 years ago, she said.

“Nothing has changed,” Dugan said.

Neither has the menu for the most part, she said. The shop also caters cocktail parties, barbecues and other events.

Staples on the Das Rookhaus menu are the American Hoagie, the Hot Italian Sub, the Roast Beef Sub, the Hot Ham and Cheese, Tuna, Steak, Corned Beef and Turkey subs, Pastrami and the Dagwood Sub of stacked swiss and colby cheeses, salami, turkey, Dutch loaf, ham, lettuce, tomato and hot peppers “topped with our own special Dagwood Sauce.”

“The Ham and Cheese is the most popular,” she said. “The Dagwood is the second-most popular.”