Jersey Mike’s opens shop in West Chester

New Jersey-based franchise with worldwide locations finds a new market closer to home

New Jersey-based franchise with nationwide locations finds a new market closer to home.

WEST CHESTER >> It has taken a while – 60 years – for Jersey Mike’s to make its way from Point Pleasant, N.J., to Chester County and other Philadelphia suburbs but now that it’s here it plans to grow.

The national sub shop operator with 1,200 stores in the U.S. and three in Australia opened in early August in a shopping center in the 300 block of East Gay Street. The location had been an Atlanta Bread Co. restaurant at one time.

Jersey Mike’s now has plans to open in the Phoenixville/Oaks area, in Glen Mills and in Horsham by the end of the year.

“We’re growing as fast as we can – but with the right people,” said Bill Farley, area director for the Philadelphia region, which includes many locations in South Jersey. “We’ve been looking at a lot of real estate all over the region, and this place really jumped out at us. It’s right uptown and the fact that it had dedicated parking was huge.”

The sandwich shop’s offerings feature a signature olive oil blend, red wine vinegar and spices as well as bread that’s baked on site each day.

It sells cold hoagies, cheesesteaks, wraps, sides, drinks and desserts. It has catered a few West Chester University football gatherings and adopted the West Chester United Soccer Club for its area charity work since opening last month, Farley said.

“We raised $3,000 for them,”

said Farley, who started at the chain’s original store in Point Pleasant 16 years ago. “We want to make a difference in the communities where we are.”

Operating Partner Cierra Pollock agreed.

“Jersey Mike’s has made such a positive impact on my life and I can’t wait to have the chance to impact someone else’s life,” Pollock said.

Since 2010, the company said, Jersey Mike’s locations throughout the country have raised nearly $18 million for local charities and have distributed more than 1.5 million free sub sandwiches to help numerous causes. This year, the company’s Sixth Annual Jersey

Mike’s Month of Giving in March raised more than $4 million for 180 charities throughout the country.

In just three years, Jersey Mike’s has more than doubled in size.

Other highlights offered by the company:

• Jersey Mike’s opened 197 new locations in 2015.

• It was the “Number 1 Fastest Growing Chain” three years running in the Nation’s Restaurant News Top 100 (2016, 2015, 2014).

• It was Number 5 on list of the 25 Best Fast-Food Chains in America (2016) by Business Insider and Restaurant Business.

• It was Number 9 on the 2016 Top 40 Fast Casual Chains (Restaurant Business).

• It was Number 16 on 2016 Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers List (FastCasual.com).

• Jersey Mike’s was voted the best sandwich chain in America, with more than 10,000 votes cast, in a 2016 poll by Ranker.

• It was a recipient of 2015 CIO 100 Award by CIO magazine and two Hospitality Technology Restaurant Breakthrough Awards, in 2014 and 2012, for the company’s single proprietary, fully integrated technology platform.

The West Chester shop accepts Ram Bucks, which should be a draw in attracting West Chester University students, the area director said.

Farley, who lives in Springfield with his wife Kirsten, believes Jersey Mike’s has found fertile ground for growth across the Commodore Barry Bridge.

“The feedback already has been amazing,” he said.

BRIAN MCCULLOUGH — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Bill Farley, area director in Pennsylvania for Jersey Mike’s Subs, stands in front of the new West Chester Jersey Mike’s Subs, a popular national sandwich shop chain.

BRIAN MCCULLOUGH — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Jersey Mike’s Subs counter workers Meggie Wolfe and Joe Brennen check an order recently at the chain’s newest location in West Chester.