Those who say everything is bigger in Texas have yet to try a deli sandwich from New Jersey. Those looking for a real, big Jersey-style "submarine" sandwich, “hero” or “hoagie” need not travel on the turnpike; they just need to visit a Northern Virginia Jersey Mike’s Subs location.
A new Jersey Mike’s sub sandwich restaurant has recently opened at 7418 Sudley Road in Manassas; another is set to open in The Shops at Stonewall in Gainesville late August- September.
Regional owner/operator Pat White held a V.I.P event to introduce his restaurant to the Manassas area Tuesday evening.
He explained that Jersey Mike’s sandwiches are unique, because not only are all subs made fresh right in front of the customer, but the deli meat and vegetables are sliced fresh daily on location.
“Where else can you get a freshly sliced sub, watching it sliced right in front of you?” White said.
He says subs are also bigger than what customers have come to expect of sandwiches from other local franchises.
“It’s not a $5 foot-long,” he said. “You can have three meals with.”
To make these mouth wide-open subs, servers take thick loaves of Italian bread and pile on inches of deli meat. From there, they heap on shaved lettuce, tomatoes, onions and peppers, and top it all off with oil and vinegar, mayonnaise or mustard.
“You have to try it with vinegar and oil,” he tells people, explaining that makes it a true Jersey-style sub.
Inside Jersey Mike's, customers are reminded of that original Mike’s sub-shop near the Jersey shore with the restaurant’s seafoam green walls and wall-sized post-cards from shore town Pt. Pleasant, New Jersey.
However, what is most important, he said, is creating a warm, friendly atmosphere and becoming a part of the communities they serve. Currently, the new Manassas store is running a promotion to benefit Stonewall Jackson High School. White said it is important to give back to the community, especially young people.
Since the national franchise launched, it has given $7 million to community and charity organizations. White especially likes to reach out to the local high schools; his Chantilly location raised $2,500 for Westfield High School in five days.
Jersey Mike’s Subs has been rapidly growing throughout Northern Virginia, and White said that along with the new Manassas and Gainesville stores, he will be opening other new locations throughout Northern Virginia.
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