Local Father & Son Opened 9th Jersey Mike’s In Phoenix Area

By: Jersey Mike's Subs | 17 Shares 267 Reads

Owners Celebrated Grand Opening with Free Subs

September 12, 2012 // Franchising.com // Phoenix, AZ - Jersey Mike’s Subs, known for its fresh sliced/fresh grilled East Coast-style subs, officially opened its 16th Phoenix area restaurant Wednesday, September 5. Father and son franchise owners Bill and Sean Mapes held a grand opening and free sub fundraiser from Wed., Sept. 5 to Sun., Sept. 9 to support the 100 Club of Arizona (Firefighter and Police Support Club).

The new restaurant, located at 4603 East Cactus Rd, Suite 2A01, Village Square II, in Phoenix, circulated 10,000 coupons throughout the community which offered a free regular sub for a minimum $1 contribution to the 100 Club of Arizona which provides immediate financial assistance to the families of public safety officers and firefighters who are seriously injured or killed in the line of duty as well as resources to enhance their safety and welfare.

Bill introduced the legendary Jersey Shore subs to Arizona in 2008 when he opened the first restaurant in Tempe. Since then, he has opened others in Scottsdale, Glendale, Phoenix, and Chandler for a total of 9 area locations, with the 10th opening in Scottsdale in October. Bill recently purchased locations in neighboring Las Vegas and is opening his third restaurant in that market in September too.

This is the third location Bill has opened with his son, Sean, 25. The two also operate Jersey Mike’s restaurants in Scottsdale and Las Vegas. In addition, Bill’s son, Corey, age 29, is an owner in restaurants in Las Vegas and Glendale, and son Ryan, 30, handles marketing. In 2011, Jersey Mike’s presented Bill and his wife, Leslie, a Multi-unit Franchise Owner of the Year Award.

“Having my three sons participate in the family business is a dream come true,” said Bill. “One of the primary reasons why I came to Jersey Mike’s was the atmosphere of opportunity and the ability to get them involved in the business. It’s wonderful to see all the kids become entrepreneurs themselves.”

Bill is a strong proponent of giving over responsibility to each and every member of his team once they’ve shown they know how to do things the Jersey Mike’s way. “I expect everyone on the team to be polite and willing to do anything required of them. Then, I will give every one of them a chance to take ownership and to manage when it’s needed. I want them to run the store as if it was their own. I want them to think like they will own a Jersey Mike’s some day because if they want to, I will help them.”

Bill added that 10 out of their 12 managers at their Phoenix and Las Vegas locations moved up the ranks internally, starting as sub makers. “Having long time employees who grow with the business creates a strong sense of family and camaraderie,” he said.

Started at the Jersey Shore in 1956, Jersey Mike’s continued its steady growth in 2011 opening 69 new restaurants throughout the country, a 15 percent increase overall. The popular sub shop wins best sub awards in virtually every market it enters.

The Mapes exemplify Jersey Mike’s quest for excellence as it selects franchise owners who share the company's commitment to quality products and exceptional customer service and who are dedicated to giving back to the local community. In 2011, locations throughout the country raised more than $2 million for worthy local charities and distributed more than 200,000 free sub sandwiches to help numerous causes.

“We offer the best East Coast-style sub out there and we do it with personality,” said Bill. “We want to know the first names of all our regular customers and we want them to feel truly welcome every time they enter the store. I think that’s a key to how we succeed.”

Passionate Jersey Mike's fans crave their subs made Mike's Way™ with onions, lettuce, tomatoes and a signature blend of olive oil, red wine vinegar and spices. The company uses only private labeled meats and cheeses that are sliced fresh for each sub sandwich and piled high on in-store baked bread. Everything is quickly made to order for each customer, just the way the first subs were made at the original Jersey Mike's more than fifty years ago. The Jersey Mike’s experience always includes its trademark neighborly banter served up by a high-energy Jersey Mike’s team.

Store hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. You can contact this store directly at (602) 867-5039.

About Jersey Mike’s

Jersey Mike’s, a sub sandwich franchise with more than 750 stores open and under development nationwide, has a long history of community involvement and support. Started at the Jersey Shore in 1956, Jersey Mike’s serves authentic East Coast-style subs on fresh baked bread – the same recipe it started with over 50 years ago. The company’s mission is to bring its customers the highest quality, freshest made sub in the industry and give back to the communities in which it operates. A store locator and franchise information for Jersey Mike’s can be found at www.jerseymikes.com.

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