The sandwich shop known for offering "a sub above" is in the midst of a significant Atlanta area expansion. Jersey Mike's Subs, which already has about about 90 locations in Georgia, has another sixteen "coming soon," according to its website.
In metro Atlanta, where the chain added a Buckhead area location to Lindbergh Plaza earlier this February and another at the new Exchange at Gwinnett in Buford, new locations are planned for Decatur, Sandy Springs, Alpharetta, Johns Creek and Tucker.
In Decatur, Jersey Mike's will open at Sam's Crossing Village, a new Publix-anchored shopping center between North Arcadia and Ponce de Leon Avenues. The new Sandy Springs sub shop will open in place of the former Starbucks just outside Regal Cinemas at Perimeter Pointe shopping center along Mount Vernon Highway. In Alpharetta/Roswell, a new Jersey Mike's and Chipotle will be built in a new outparcel of the Kroger-anchored Rivermont Station shopping center at 8465 Holcomb Bridge Road. The Johns Creek Jersey Mike's will open in the Publix-anchored Medlock Corners shopping center at 5805 State Bridge Road. In Tucker, Jersey Mike's will join a host of upcoming tenants at the new Publix-anchored Hugh Howell Village at the intersection of Hugh Howell Road and Mountain Industrial Boulevard.
In addition to metro Atlanta locations, other new Jersey Mike's Subs are planned for Columbus (2), Dawsonville, Evans, Fayetteville, Morrow, Newnan, Perry, Richmond Hill, Rincon and Suwanee.
Jersey Mike's is considered by many industry metrics as one of the top five sandwich shops in America. Although its unit count is dwarfed by industry leader Subway, which has more than 20,000 units in America, it seems to be in a better position for growth. Subway has in recent years seen its franchisees shutter several thousand locations as both oversaturation and increased competition have led to disappointing sales at existing units.
In addition to Jersey Mike's, Firehouse Subs, which in late 2021 was acquired by Restaurant Brands International (RBI), is among a crop of sub shops that seem primed to take market-share away from Subway and other legacy brands that have been slow to innovate their brands and improve food quality.
Metro Atlanta (and other cities) is littered with former Quiznos and Blimpie locations, while other chains like Potbelly Sandwich Shop have yet to arrive. Wawa, a convenience store operator based in Wawa, Pennsylvania, is known by its patrons perhaps as much for fuel as for their premium sandwiches. The company entered the Florida market in 2012 and will later this year open its 250th location in the Sunshine State. Wawa has announced plans to enter Mobile, Alabama by 2024 and Nashville by 2025, but has thus far steered clear of Georgia where QuikTrip and RaceTrac dominate fuel like Kroger and Publix dominate grocery.
As the fallout from COVID-19, inflation, and rising labor and food costs comes into focus, it will be very interesting to see what opportunities present themselves for chain and independent restaurants looking to open in metro Atlanta.
Are you pleased to see Jersey Mike's Subs expanding in metro Atlanta? What is your favorite sandwich chain? What chain not yet in Atlanta would you like to see enter the market?
Please share your thoughts below.