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With its unmistakable smell of fresh-baked bread and the promise of sandwiches piled high, Jersey Mike's has carved out a delicious niche in the hearts (and stomachs) of sandwich lovers everywhere. Ranked number two on the Franchise 500 of 2024, Jersey Mike's operates more than 2,700 locations as of January 2024, and has experienced over 40% growth over the past 4 years—and shows no signs of slowing down.
But behind the delicious sandwiches and savory spreads lies a history as rich and complex as their famous Italian cold cuts. From humble beginnings to national fame, here's everything you need to know about Jersey Mike's.
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1. The CEO worked in the original business as a teenager. Then he bought it.
When the first store in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, was still called Mike's Subs, Peter Cancro started out as a sandwich packer in a store at age 14. Eventually, he earned the right to cut meat, constantly talking to tourists and memorizing their orders.
When the owners of Mike's Subs put the business up for sale, Cancro's mother encouraged him to buy it. So, at age 17, Cancro bought Mike's Subs with a loan from his former football coach (who was also a banker).
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2. Jersey Mike's hosts an annual day and month of giving.
Jersey Mike's Month of Giving also includes the Annual Day of Giving on the last Wednesday in March. On this day, 100% of sales – not just profits – are donated to the local charity partners of each location.
In 2024, the Annual Month of Giving raised more than $25 million to benefit over 200 local charities. This amount includes customer donations and 100% of sales as of March 27, 2024. After 14 Annual Months of Giving, Jersey Mike's has raised $113 million.
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3. Danny DeVito was Jersey Mike's first celebrity endorser.
Danny DeVito grew up not far from the original Mike's Subs on the Jersey Shore. When he became Jersey Mike's first-ever celebrity endorser in a commercial, Peter Cancro was skeptical. However, Cancro saw DeVito's work ethic and dedication during the commercial shoot and realized that DeVito would be a good fit for the Jersey Mike's culture.
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4. They have a comprehensive training program for franchisees.
Jersey Mike's franchisee training program is considered to be more hands-on than other franchise training programs. The program consists of 8-10 weeks of classroom training and hands-on experience in the store. Jersey Mike's believes that the more they invest in training a franchisee, the more successful they will be.
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5. Jersey Mike's is the official naming rights partner of Rutgers Athletics.
Jersey Mike's has a multi-year agreement with Rutgers University as the official naming rights partner of Rutgers Athletics. The former Rutgers Athletic Center (The RAC) was renamed Jersey Mike's Arena and hosts several Rutgers Athletics sporting events and even concerts.
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6. There is a supposedly secret menu.
There is no official statement about a secret menu at Jersey Mike's, but many customers believe there is one. It's unclear if customers are simply modifying existing sandwiches to create something new, but the mystery of a secret menu lives on.
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7. There are currently three international locations, but not for much longer.
Jersey Mike's has two stores in Canada and one in Mexico. However, the brand has announced a partnership with one of Canada's largest restaurant operators, Redberry, to open 300 more stores in Canada by 2034.
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8. Jersey Mike's Tailgate Tour may be coming to a tailgate event near you.
To enhance its marketing efforts, Jersey Mike's is taking a tailgate tour to college football games across the country with a large truck. Starting in 2024, the tailgate tour will also include National Hockey League (NHL) games and college basketball games.
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9. A bowl is called a “sub in a tub.”
Don't like bread? That shouldn't stop you from trying Jersey Mike's. You can get all the fillings (meaning meat, veggies and sauces) in one bowl called “Sub in a Tub.”
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10. Jersey Mike's is the official sandwich of the NHL.
In 2023, Jersey Mike's became the official partner of the National Hockey League (NHL) and their subs are the official sandwich. This agreement includes marketing rights and on-ice digital advertising.
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