Staff Writer
Second shop in Jacksonville
Fresh and fast is the goal of a new food-service franchise in San Marco.
The name Jimmy John’s may be familiar to graduates of the University of Florida and Florida State University, as the company has gourmet sandwich stores in those and other college towns. Undeterred by a difficult economy, a second Jimmy John’s franchise will open within the span of two months.
The first opened in Tapestry Park on the City’s Southside about a month ago and the second opened Tuesday along Hendricks Avenue in San Marco, near the San Marco Branch of the Jacksonville Public Library.
“We’ve had a pretty good response during our first month,” said Ashley Thomas, assistant manager at the Tapestry Park restaurant. “People like fresh food fast, and that’s our goal.”
The most popular menu items are the “Beach Club,” which consists of turkey breast, provolone cheese, avocado spread, sliced cucumber, sprouts, lettuce, tomato and mayo; and the “Italian Club,” genoa salami, Italian capicola, smoked ham, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo and homemade Italian vinaigrette.
The Hendricks Avenue location is about 1,700 square feet and seats 28 people inside and outside. General Manager Patrick Scott, 25, is a Georgia Tech graduate and expects to have a staff of about 25. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.
“Shortly after graduating with a degree in building construction, the country went into a recession and the construction industry didn’t have the brightest future,” said Scott.
“I had been contacted about operating a Jimmy John’s here in Jacksonville and I had previously lived and worked here. I liked food service and worked in a Jimmy John’s when I was in college. I thought it would be a good investment and it was one of the most enjoyable jobs I’ve ever had.”
Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwich Shops, based in Champaign, Ill., was founded in 1983 by then 19-year-old Jimmy John Liautaud. The company created its first franchise store 10 years later and reached 1,000 stores with the recent grand opening of a Beaverton, Ore., store.
The company was No. 2 for sandwich franchises by allbusiness.com behind Subway.
“People respond well to our atmosphere, it’s upbeat and full of energy. We try to have a good time and they can feel that,” Scott said.
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