January 17 was a big day for news about American quick-serve restaurant franchise businesses known for making sub sandwiches looking to take a bite out of the Canadian market, as both Jimmy John's and Jersey Mike's issued press releases about planned expansions in the Great White North.
While Jimmy John's inked its deal with Foodtastic to enter the Canadian franchise scene, Jersey Mike's has linked up with Redberry, and not only has plans for its existing sub shop locations (both in Ontario) but has articulated an ambitious aim to open up 300 locations nationwide over the next 10 years.
Redberry is a restaurant company, or "food broker," that operates the franchising for two big U.S. fast-food chains, Taco Bell and Burger King.
The plan for Jersey Mike's is to open "a combination of Redberry-owned-and-operated stores and supported franchisee locations," over the next decade, with the sub sandwich brand in every single province.
According to Jersey Mike's Subs, it's the company's first major international expansion in its 68-year-history.
“We’re thrilled that Jersey Mike’s entrusted us with bringing their iconic brand to Canada,” said Ken Otto, CEO of Redberry, in a media release.
In addition to Jersey Mike's and Jimmy John's growing their presence in Canada, other U.S. quick-serve restaurant chains expanding on this side of the border include Shake Shack (which is set to open its Toronto flagship soon), Firehouse Subs (which recently added two new B.C. locations, North Delta and Mission), and Dave's Hot Chicken (which has yet to make a move in B.C.).
Jersey Mike's: What to know about the brand
As the name suggests, Jersey Mike's hails from New Jersey, specifically the Jersey Shore, where it was founded back in 1956 under the name Mike's Submarines. Flash forward 15 years and an enterprising young man named Peter Cancro took a part-time gig at the sandwich shop, and formulated a plan to buy it from its owners, which he achieved as a high school senior along with some buddies in 1975. He began franchising Jersey Mike's in 1987.
The Jersey Mike's menu focuses on made-to-order sub sandwiches on bread baked in the shop using sliced meats like roast beef and turkey and fresh produce for toppings. The standard prep for the chain's lineup of cold subs is to have it "Mike's Way" which means with onions, lettuce, tomatoes, red wine vinegar, oil and spices, namely oregano.
Jersey Mike's also has a line of hot subs that features melted cheese on meats and/or veggies.
Metro Vancouver residents not in Kitchener or London, Ontario, (where the sole Canadian Jersey Mike's locations currently are) will find the closest Jersey Mike's Subs to B.C. located south of the border at 115 E College Way in Mount Vernon, Washington.
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