I miss Schlotzky’s Deli. I think there are a handful of independent stores around, but none near me. I’ve never been to a Jimmy John’s; I probably woudn’t be inclined to, since their radio ads are so annoying.
One thing that’s weird about the Jimmy John’s location that I’ve been to is how big the work area is. The only activity I ever see is at the little counter immediately next to the cash register, where the sandwiches get slapped together. There’s a big long workbench area in the middle and some shelves and workbenches along the back of the room that don’t appear to ever be used. How much prep work/area could such a simple shop need? Makes me wonder if they rented out an existing restaurant space that came with all those benches and everything, and they just left it there to make the big space at least seem a little more filled-in.
Ours is like that to. I think they use it in the morning to slice veggies and bake bread, but then once that’s done, they don’t really need it for anything.
I hear Ilchester is very popular though.
Firehouse Subs. My God, their fans are as rabid as those that wave their hands over their heads at Jars of Clay concerts.
Jimmy John’s, Quizno’s, Firehouse Subs, Schlotzky’s Deli, Jersey Mike’s … not a one in the Buffalo metropolitan area. Outside of the biggies like McDonald’s, Subway, Applebee’s and the like, national restaurant chains tend to avoid the Western New York area like the plague. The first Chipotle opened here just a few weeks ago, years after it was commonplace in the rest of the country.
Re: Algonquin Sub Shop.
Hell. Yes.
Carry on.
I had never even heard of Jimmy John’s before today. Subway is awful. I will never eat there. I had the misfortune of trying a Jersey Mike’s last year for the first time and it was even worse than Subway. Quizno’s will do in an emergency but it’s pretty shitty also.
The best overall sandwhich shop in my town isn’t a chain. It’s called Plaza Deli. Sadly, I was permanently 86’ed from the place a few years ago (long story) and so my choices are more limited. There are a few very good gourmet sandwich shops in town as well.
I’ve never heard of Jimmy John’s either, so I know we don’t have one around here.
So I have two complaints about them. Their food sucks, and I can’t get any of it.
pulykamell (and other Chicagoans), if you are ever out in Elmwood Park, go to Alpine Food Shop on North Avenue (it’s a tiny place right a block west of Johnnie’s Beef) and get an Alpine sub. You will not regret it.
Thank God you’re not pitting the real Jimmy John’s. Natural skin casings, with your choice of toppings, including excellent kraut and chili, raw and cooked onions, and brown and yellow mustard (even ketchup for the heathens.) Of course, unlike the other Jimmy John’s, there’s only one of these, in the western Philly 'burbs.
As for the “sub” shop called Jimmy John’s, I tried it when I was in Champaign/Urbana one time, and m’eh.
I’ve never had Jimmy Johns, but I’ve seen their ads plastered everywhere. Also, why all the hate for Subway? A sandwich is a sandwich, no? And at least you don’t have the too-much mayo problem at a place where they fix the sub right in front of you.
I have a JJ’s an easy 15 minute walk south of me. Once or twice a year, I find myself hungry, close to JJs, and having forgotten how bland their food is. I am always optimistic about food. I am always disappointed with theirs. A JJ’s sandwich is like taking leftover squashed wonderbread from the fridge, slapping the last of the bland freezer cheese on it along with whatever leftover meat is in the bottom drawer, and slathering it with mayonaise.
Don’t get me wrong. I love me some mayonaise. Just not when it is the only flavor.
I will go to Subway 100 times out of 100 instead of Jimmy John’s. (I do agree, however, that the quality of Subway’s fare depends very much on the quality of the individual store owner/franchisee. I am very lucky to live in an area with very good Subway owners/franchisers.)
I just read the origin story of Jimmy John’s per their Wiki article, and much of this makes sense now:
- The founder graduated second-to-last in his high school class.
- He wanted to start a business - his father loaned him money with the provision that if the business failed, it was off to the Army with him.
- A hot dog place would have cost too much for what he was loaned, so he went for a cold-cuts-style sandwich place and started with 4 sandwich types.
- Much of his success came from aiming at college students, delivering, and keeping prices low.
Is that someone’s idea of a well-written entry?
Subway has crappy bread the correct amount of mayo will not change the bread situation.
I like Jimmy John’s for the most part, but they can be inconsistent with how much condiments they put on the sandwich. I always get the Italian Club with the hot peppers added on. It has mayo AND Italian dressing on it…yum! Its $6.75, way better than Subway, faster than any other fast food place, AND they have awesome jalapeno kettle chips you can buy. Those chips are really good tasting, and another thing…there’s enough of them.
Ever buy a bag of chips from Quizno’s? There’s like 4 chips in there for a dollar.
I think Jimmy John’s is smart in that they realized that if they ONLY offer one type of cheese, eventually people will just accept it to the point of not even thinking about it at all. (A lot of people, when I say that I don’t like that Jimmy John’s only offers provolone, say “really? I didn’t know that!”) Some time as a protest I’m going to walk into Jimmy John’s with a gigantic wheel of provolone and shove it on their counter and tell them that I thought they could use more provolone. Man, now that I’m typing it out, provolone is a weird word. I know it’s Italian but it sounds like the name of a drug. Something for cholesterol or erectile dysfunction.
OK I came in to mention that I loved Bari but that Alpine is prob closer to the op and got beaten to both! Riviera on Harlem makes a fine fine sandwich as well. Get the Will Special.
I’ve never been, but I am in the general area every so often, so it’s definitely hitting my to-visit list.
As good as Alpine is, the idea of being a block away from Johnnies and not getting a dipped combo sweet makes my brain hurt and my tummy sad.