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With the distinctive aroma of freshly baked bread and the promise of heaping sandwiches, Jersey Mike’s has carved out a delicious niche in the hearts (and stomachs) of sandwich lovers around the world. Ranked No. 2 on the 2024 Franchise 500, Jersey Mike’s operated more than 2,700 locations as of January 2024, and has grown its location count by more than 40% over the past four years, showing no signs of slowing down.
But behind the mouthwatering sandwiches and flavorful spreads lies a story as rich and multi-layered as their famous Italian cold cuts. Learn more about Jersey Mike’s, from humble beginnings to national fame, here.
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1. The CEO worked in the original store as a teenager and then bought it.
Peter Cancro started working as a sandwich wrapper at age 14 in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, back when the first shop was called Mike’s Subs. He earned the right to cut meat by constantly chatting with tourists and remembering their orders.
When the owner of Mike’s Subs put it up for sale, Cancro’s mother encouraged him to buy the business, so at age 17, Cancro bought Mike’s Subs with money borrowed from his former football coach (who was also a banker).
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2. Jersey Mike’s has a Giving Day and Giving Month each year.
During Jersey Mike’s Giving Month,Annual Giving DayThe last Wednesday in March will see the launch of “Charity Day,” where 100% of sales, as well as profits, will be donated to each store’s local charity partner.
In 2024, Annual Giving Month It has raised more than $25 million to support over 200 local charities, including customer donations and 100% of sales through March 27, 2024. After 14 months of giving, Jersey Mike’s has raised $113 million.
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3. Danny DeVito was Jersey Mike’s first celebrity sponsor.
Danny DeVito grew up not far from the original Mike’s Subs on the Jersey Shore, and when he became a celebrity spokesman for Jersey Mike’s first commercial, Peter Cancro was skeptical, but after seeing DeVito’s work ethic and dedication while filming the commercial, Cancro realized he would fit right in with the Jersey Mike’s culture.
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4. We have a comprehensive franchise training program.
Jersey Mike’s Franchise store training program Jersey Mike’s training program is considered more hands-on than other franchise training programs. The program consists of 8-10 weeks of classroom training and in-store experience, and Jersey Mike’s believes that the more they invest in their franchise partners’ training, the more successful they will be.
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5. Jersey Mike’s is the official naming rights partner of Rutgers University Athletics.
Jersey Mikes has signed a multi-year agreement with Rutgers University to become the official naming rights partner of Rutgers Athletics. The former Rutgers Athletic Center (RAC) is Jersey Mike’s Arena The space also hosts many Rutgers University Athletics sporting events and concerts.
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6. Apparently there is a secret menu.
There is no official statement Jersey Mike’s Secret MenuHowever, many customers believe there is a secret menu item. It’s unclear whether customers are simply tweaking existing sandwiches to create something new, but the mystery of the secret menu lives on.
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7. We currently have three overseas locations, but they won’t last long.
Jersey Mike’s has two stores in Canada and one in Mexico, but the brand The partnership was announced Partnering with Canada’s largest restaurant operator, Redberry, which plans to open an additional 300 restaurants in Canada by 2034.
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8. Jersey Mike’s Tailgate Tour may be coming to a tailgate near you.
To improve its marketing efforts, Jersey Mike’s Large trucks on a tailgate tour to college football games across the country, and starting in 2024, tailgate tours will also include National Hockey League (NHL) and college basketball games.
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9. The bowl is called a “sub in a tub.”
Don’t like bread? You should definitely try Jersey Mike’s. Subfilling (i.e. meat, veggies, sauce) are placed in a bowl and called a “sub in a tub.”
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10. Jersey Mike’s is the official sub sandwich of the NHL.
In 2023, Jersey Mike’s Official Partner The NHL is the official sandwich of the team and its subs. The deal includes on-ice marketing rights and digital advertising.