Billy Boy’s owner set to open sandwhich shop

ALBANY — Xavier Morris is about to be a busy man come September of this year. Morris, owner of Billy Boy’s Bar and Grille on Palmyra Road in the former Lamar Parr Plaza, is opening a sandwich shop in that same complex this fall.

A lack of consistent business at his Billy Boy’s spot on the eastside led Morris, known to his customers and acquaintances as “Zay,” to refocus his efforts and resources.

“I shut it down and I’ve tried to focus on this area, which is the Palmyra location,” he said.

Zaybo’s Sub Shop is the planned title of Morris’ new restaurant. The space is currently being renovated, and Morris said he’s hopeful they’ll be ready to go by the first week of September. The shop will offer different types of wraps, smoothies, milkshakes and healthy sandwich options. Morris said his goal is to create an option for those working in that area, particularly the health care professionals.

“What I’m basically going to be doing is New York-style deli sandwiches,” he said. “I want to cater to everyone, but I’m basically catering to the hospital and the people in this area that want to get a quick lunch and a healthy lunch and they don’t want to eat things that are so heavy.”

Morris said it hasn’t always been smooth sailing at his Palmyra Billy Boy’s location, but he’s managed to make it work.

“It’s been ups and downs,” he said. “I have noticed that business drops down a little bit when school is out. You would think that’s when it would be busy because people don’t want to cook, but it’s the opposite. So next year I’m going to be prepared for it.”

With students making up a large percentage of his customers, Morris said he plans on showing his support and appreciation for them in the form of discounts. He said he has some college wing deals in the works.

Ultimately, Morris said he would like take his business up Interstate-75 and serve in Atlanta, where he said he has a large following.

“My dream is to put that bad boy right over there where that new Atlanta Falcons stadium is,” he said with a grin.

The vision to expand doesn’t stop there. Morris said one day he hopes to go not just out of Albany, but the state of Georgia entirely and up the East Coast.

“I think big and I follow my dreams,” he said. “I also want to go to New York with a food truck in downtown Manhattan. That’s another one of my ventures I’m gonna do. I’m working on it. I’m really, really working on it.”