by David Chapman
Staff Writer
Since 1982, motorists who have gone to the Beaches via Beach Boulevard have almost assuredly seen a nondescript sandwich shop on the right just before Penman Road. If they’ve been fortunate enough to stop at the hole-in-the-wall joint, they’d know why so many locals call Angie’s Subs a Beaches icon.
Owner Ed Malin knows why, as he frequented the shop for lunch just about every day for seven years while running a charter fishing business. So much a regular, in fact, that the restaurant’s third owner, Carol Lackie, named a sandwich — the El Guapo — after his boat.
Malin isn’t alone in his loyalty to and love of the food. So when Lackie was looking to sell seven years ago, he jumped at the chance.
“I love the place and love the product,” said Malin. “I really like being self employed.”
The building’s changed over the years, as what once was a 19-foot space in the middle of the small shopping center has now consumed it the way beachgoers do its most famous sandwich, the Peruvian.
The Lil’ Champ convenience store to its west was taken over and converted into more space — you can still see the swing-door refrigerators behind some furniture — and the laundromat directly to its east was vacated, which has allowed Malin to tear down the wall. Eventually, the shop will have a total of 5,200 square feet.
While subs aren’t recession proof necessarily, said Malin, sales have grown each of the last three years. Or, in quantity terms, they sell just under 700 subs — and a whole lot of their sweet tea — a day.
Malin’s biggest challenge also doubles as one of his best assets: his staff. He cares about his staff, currently at 44 people, as he knows many of them personally, but strives to keep customer service at the forefront.
“I really only have a few small rules,” he said, “but customer service is one of them. It keeps the people happy.”
Between running the business and his current construction process, Malin enjoys fishing and hunting — but it’s the passion that led him to buy the store that keeps him busiest.
“This just takes up most of my time,” he said, with a smile.
356-2466