This 32-year-old sandwich franchise, which recently launched three locations in the borough, is focused on fresh meat, homemade bread and award-winning recipes

by Jessica Jones-Gorman

Founded in 1983 by then 19-yearold Jimmy John Liautaud, the very first Jimmy John’s sandwich franchise was formed from the sweeping idea of creating nothing less than the world’s greatest gourmet sandwich.

With a handful of cookbooks checked out from his local library, Liautaud perfected his award-winning bread and created four basic sandwiches, which he tested on friends and family, who gave him the advice and praise he needed to continue. Liautaud opened the very first Jimmy John’s sub shop in a garage in Charleston, IL, for which he paid a then-whopping $200 a month in rent. He could afford only one used refrigerator, a chest freezer, an oven, and a meat slicer, and served soda with no ice because there was no room in the budget for an ice machine.

At first, little to no business walked in the door, so Liautaud took to the streets with armfuls of free sandwiches and tossed them out to college kids, who in time returned to his shop, not least for its dirt-cheap prices. He delivered too, which was icing on the cake.

Decades later, Jimmy John’s has grown to encompass a total of 2,000 locations nationally, three recent new ones here on Staten Island (New Springville, Dongan Hills, and New Dorp).

“What makes this place different from the rest is that it’s honest, it’s damn good, and it’s fast…at a decent price,” the company explains on its website. “Jimmy John’s definition of fresh is worlds apart from everyone else’s. Bread is baked in-house everyday and served fresh. Meat and veggies are sliced fresh inhouse every day. The turkey is real turkey, the roast beef is real roast beef—no additives, no vegetable-based fillers, no fake stuff. Nothing is delivered pre-sliced. Real Hellmann’s mayo, real Grey Poupon, real olive oil, and red wine vinegar—it’s the best of the best.”

Liautaud is still involved with the company, and actively seeks franchisees (there have been 200 new ones in just the past three years). Prior business experience is a must, coupled with personal financial qualifications ($80,000 in non-borrowed personal resources, along with an overall net worth of $300,000 to qualify. It typically takes 6-8 months from signing the franchise agreement to opening day, and all new franchisees participate in a seven-week training program (three weeks of training and four weeks of management experience via an apprenticeship program in a franchise location). Once completed, franchisees receive regular updates to their training, including on site reviews.

Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches
2714 Hylan Boulevard / 718.987.5972 — 3237 Richmond Avenue / 718.967.2695
1919 Hylan Boulevard, Suite 1 / 718.980.0071 / jimmyjohns.com