Franchisee Profile: John Mills

Franchisee: John Mills
Location: Oakland, TN

Q: What did you do before franchising with Lenny’s?
A: I’ve always had a passion for the food business. I love to cook and be around food. My grandfather owned a restaurant and catering business and I remember at 12 years old he would put me in the back washing dishes, so that was officially my first position in the restaurant industry. I loved being around him and his knowledge carried over to other family members including my uncle, Danny Robinson, who was also instrumental in setting the path for me in other areas of the food industry. I've worked with distributors, manufacturers and even as a waiter back in college. All areas have given me insight into this business. Owning my own restaurant seemed like the next step for me.

Q: Why was Lenny’s the right fit for you?
A: I’ve always said, “If you believe in what you sell, then a good product will sell itself.” That’s really how I feel about Lenny’s. I love their healthy products and their friendly approach to guest service. Lenny’s corporate was also a big factor in my decision to become a franchisee. They offer great support and ongoing training to their franchisees. They give you all the materials you need to be successful. If you plug yourself into their proven system, you will succeed. After meeting the corporate staff, there’s only one word I’d use to describe them: family. The Alvords are great, and their entire corporate board is made up of the type of people I want to work with as a franchisee. Not to mention the support you get from other Lenny’s franchisees while you get your location up and going.

Q: How do you see your location connecting with the community?
A: A good manager is the key to success in the restaurant industry. I am very fortunate to have Jenny Karcher, who has lived in Fayette County all her life, as my manager. Jenny is that person that everyone wants to be around because of her wonderful personality and people skills. I am very proud of all my employees, because they deliver the “Lenny’s Experience” that each and every customer who comes in our door deserves! I want to be known in the community as the place to go for great food and a great experience. We are going to do whatever we can to help out and be a part of the Fayette county community. I want people to think of Lenny’s as their place in Fayette County to go and get a freshly made sub sandwich with the best service around!

Q: What are your expansion plans?
A: I definitely don't want to stop with one Lenny's. For the time being, my focus is on the first location and having it up and running. My desire is to expand throughout Fayette County with more locations in the future.

Lenny’s Sub Shop Announces Scratch & Win Grand Prize Winner

Frequent Traveler Wins 3D TV and Home Entertainment System

Armed with a fanatical following full of folks often expressing their deep admiration of Lenny’s Sub Shops with three powerful words, “I Love Lenny’s,” the 150+ unit sandwich specialists are known for giving back to their loyal fans. Today, Lenny’s is pleased to announce the grand prize winner of their Scratch & Win contest. Robert O. of Raleigh, NC will receive a 3D TV and home entertainment system.

Robert, a 53-year-old Director of Service for a large office products provider, spends much of his time on the road. After eating at Lenny’s while on a layover in Charlotte, he fell in love with the generous portions and fresh deli meats. Now, he eats at Lenny’s Sub Shop so frequently that he’s established a friendship with the manager, Jay Johnson.

“I’ve been a huge Lenny’s fan since my first bite of a Lenny’s sub,” said Robert. “There aren’t any in my hometown, but spend enough time in Charlotte to get my fix.”

Word of Robert’s zeal for the brand even got back to his home office.

“My boss was asking me what this sub shop was because it kept showing up my expense reports week after week,” said Robert. As a result, the next time the two were in Charlotte, Robert took his boss to Lenny’s, only to find it closed. However, the manager was still there and recognized Rob.

“Jay saw it was me and opened the restaurant back up just for us. He said I was such a loyal guest, he wanted an opportunity to win my boss over too!”

This kind of personal relationship with customers is just one of the reasons why hungry people across the nation are talking about the quick-casual restaurant serving fresh meats on generously-portioned subs. But respect is a two way street and loyal fans don’t go unnoticed, especially when many are forced to operate on tight budgets.

Lenny’s Charlotte manager Jay Johnson, agrees. “We’ve all experienced a good deal of penny pinching due to this recession,” said Johnson. “I’m glad that my business was able to reward one of our most loyal guests.”

Lenny's stands a step above the competition by offering dining services that other quick-casual restaurants don't. For example, when you place your order at the deli case, you can watch while the Lenny's crew members slice the meat and cheese fresh to order. Employees are frequently seen in the dining area asking if you're enjoying your food or if you need a drink refill. The average combo meal, including chips and a drink, costs about $8.50, and refills are free. Don't look for a garbage can on the way out—a Lenny's staff member will clean off the table for you.

“We reward our guests every day with our premium products and exceptional service, but sometimes, we like to go a step further,” said George Alvord, CEO of Lenny’s Sub Shop. “We’re glad that the grand prize winner of this contest turned out to be somebody who has shown such unshakable loyalty to our brand.”

Lenny's grabs guests with 3-D TV giveaway

Lenny’s was just featured in Nation’s Restaurant News in an article called “Lenny’s grabs guests with 3-D TV Giveaway.” The article goes in depth into Lenny’s latest Scratch N’ Win promotion and discusses how this has been a successful way to engage its guests with the brand. In addition to that Lenny’s saw a 5 and 6 percent sales increase during the promotion period with an 11 percent sales hike one week. Lenny’s is also reaching out to its guests through Facebook promotions, the new Substantial Rewards loyalty program and testing out mobile-phone apps too. Check out a portion of the story below or read the full article here.

Lenny's grabs guests with 3-D TV giveaway

When Lenny’s Sub Shop officials reprised last year’s Scratch & Win promotion this fall, they decided a contest prize consisting of a 3-D home entertainment center was the best way to reach out and grab customers’ attention.

“With technology evolving, 3-D TVs are the thing people want to have but won’t go out to get till prices drop,” said Brent Alvord, president of the 170-unit Memphis, Tenn.-based Lenny’s.

The home entertainment center, which replaced a $100,000 cash prize offered in 2009’s Scratch & Win contest, was one of several major tweaks that made the promotion a “fantastic success” its second year, Alvord said. (Read More)

Lenny's franchisee opens location in Oakland, Tennessee

Lenny's franchisee John Mills’ was recently featured by The Oakland News, which discusses his new store opening in Oakland, TN! Milles talks about his previous experience in the restaurant industry; his love for Lenny’s healthy/ delicious products, positive approach to guest service, and excellent franchise system; his plans to connect with the Fayette County community; and his plans to expand throughout Fayette County. Check out the article below.

Franchisee Profile: Neal Patel

Franchisee Name: Neal Patel
Franchisee Since: Jan. 2009
Franchise Locations:
1) 102 E Broughton Street, Savannah, GA 31401
2) 103 Canal Street, Pooler, GA 31322


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Q: Where are you originally from?
A: I moved to Savannah from India 10 years ago.

Q: What did you do before franchising with Lenny’s?
A: I studied computer science at Savannah Tech and later attended Armstrong University. My parents own a hotel in Savannah so I also helped them run that.

Q: How did you learn about Lenny’s?
A: I wanted to own my own business all through college. One of my friends actually owned the two Lenny’s nearby and offered to sell them to me. I didn’t know much about Lenny’s at the time but I visited one as a customer to learn more and really liked the way they did things.

Q: Why was it the right fit?
A: I love meeting people and a restaurant is the perfect environment for that. It’s hard work, but I love making sandwiches just the way customers like.

Q: What are your expansion plans?
A: I own the rights to a total of 10 stores in the Savannah market, so I’d like to eventually open another 8 to add to the two I already own.

Second New Menu Item Since '98 Rolls Out at Lenny's

QSR recently documented Lenny's newest addition to their menu--the Hot Italian Sub. This sub is only the second new menu item from the 150-plus-unit sub franchise since 1998. Check out a portion of the article below or read the full story here.

Second New Menu Item Since '98 Rolls Out at Lenny's

"I Love Lenny's." These three words sum up the devotion of Lenny's Sub Shop's fanatical following, and explain why this 150-plus-unit sub franchise has worked so diligently to prepare for evolutionary expansion in 2011. Lenny's has made another addition to its menu, proving innovation is what intrigues and keeps guests coming back.

Lenny's new Hot Italian Sub, which hit counters nationwide on November 1, is only the second new release ever since the creation of Lenny's original menu back in 1998.

The Hot Italian Sub is a combination of four premium Italian meats, provolone cheese, onions, and green peppers grilled to perfection and topped off with oregano, pepper, oil, and vinegar. It is similar to the cold Italian Sub already on the menu. (Read More)

Lenny’s Heats Things Up: Introducing the Hot Italian Sub

National Sub Shop Franchise Rolls Out a Brand New Sandwich on November 1st

“I Love Lenny’s.” These three simple yet powerful words sum up the devotion of Lenny’s Sub Shop’s fanatical following, and explain why this 150-plus unit sub franchise has worked so diligently to prepare for evolutionary expansion in 2011. Lenny’s has made another addition to their menu proving innovation is what intrigues and keeps guests coming back.

What’s so exciting about a new sandwich? Well, Lenny’s new Hot Italian Sub, which hits counters nationwide on November 1st, is only the second new release ever since the creation of Lenny’s original menu back in 1998.

The Hot Italian Sub is a combination of four premium Italian meats, provolone cheese, onions and green peppers grilled to perfection and topped off with oregano, pepper, oil and vinegar. It is similar to the cold Italian Sub already on the menu, and many of Lenny’s loyal fans have mentioned the potential deliciousness of heating up this already very popular sub.



“Lenny’s has always thrived by sticking with what works and finding success in consistency,” said George Alvord, Lenny’s CEO. “But our main interest is guest satisfaction, and upon listening carefully to the feedback of both our guests and our franchisees, we’ve decided to take a leap of faith. And I think we’ll find the results to be pretty delicious.”

The first addition to Lenny’s original 1998 menu came last year, with the French Dip, a hot roast beef sub with au jus dipping sauce. The hugely positive guest response let Lenny’s know loud and clear that their loyal fans would not be scared away by a few positive changes, as long as their old favorites stuck around as well.

Even though they’ve upgraded the business, "people appreciate that our favorite items haven't changed since the beginning," said Alvord. "Our Authentic Philly Cheesesteak is still the most popular item, and our guests can still have the customized experience they love."

Part of the brand’s allure is its commitment to its fans. Not all sandwich shops are created equal, unfortunately for the competition, Lenny’s has proven that. That's why hungry people across the nation are talking about the quick-casual restaurant serving fresh meats on generously-portioned subs for over a decade (the Authentic Philly Cheesesteak 15-incher weighs over a pound). Unlike those serving processed meats, Lenny's high-quality steak is from Philadelphia and is trucked twice per week to its locations across the country.

Lenny's stands a step above the competition by offering dining services that other quick-casual restaurants don't. For instance, when you place your order at the Lenny's counter, you can watch while the Lenny's crew member slices your deli meat fresh to order. When you order one of Lenny’s authentic Philly Cheesesteaks it will be cooked fresh and served hot off the grill. Employees are frequently seen in the dining area asking if you're enjoying your food or if you need a drink refill. The average combo meal including chips and a drink costs about $8.50, and refills are free. Don't look for a garbage can on the way out; a Lenny's staff member will clean off the table for you.

“The key to Lenny’s expansion is just that—expansion,” Alvord said. “We are making additions without taking anything away. What could be better than that?”

Lenny's franchisee Bruce Longmore featured in Atlanta Business Chronicle

The Atlanta Business Chronicle recently published an article called “Dining outlook promising for Perimeter region.” This article discusses how Lenny’s franchise owner, Bruce Longmore, continues to succeed despite a down economy and what he’s doing to be a successful franchise owner. Longmore was Lenny’s Franchisee of the Year this year along with winning seven other awards at Lenny’s national convention. Longmore owns two Atlanta-area locations, in Alpharetta and Cumming, and hopes to open more locations in the future. Check out a portion of the article below or read the full story here:

Dining outlook promising for Perimeter region

Bruce Longmore won’t let people forget Lenny’s Sub Shop.

He hands out Lenny’s coupons at Walmart. His fully wrapped vehicle is a rolling Lenny’s advertisement. He even dons a Lenny’s hat while relaxing on his boat.

Along with his wife, Donna, the owners of two Lenny’s stores — in Cumming and Alpharetta, both acquired in 2008 — do what he calls “relentless promotion.” The above-and-beyond effort, in addition to a huge commitment to networking and community involvement, keeps the former sales executive on the go. (Read More)

Franchisee Profile: David Miller, Lenny's Franchisee of Austell, GA

Location: 4180 Austell Rd
Austell, GA 30106-8242
Store opened: April 2000, Miller took over corporate store in November 2003

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Q: Where are you originally from?
A: Hattiesburg, MS

Q: Before Franchising, what were you involved with?
A: I worked as an independent medical sales rep in Hattiesburg, MS before moving to Douglasville, GA (where I live now) about seven years ago.

Q: Are you a first time business owner?
A: Nope, I’ve been a business man all my life! The most notable is probably the protective products company I owned and operated with my brother. We made protective clothing for medical professionals.

Q: How did you learn about the brand?
A: I’d often visit my cousin in Greenville, MS, and one day he said, “Let me take you to this great little sub shop!” It was, of course, Lenny’s, and I had the Philly Cheesesteak there and thought, “Wow, this is great!” So we kept going back, and I got to know the Greenville manager and he told me Lenny’s was a franchise, so I went to Memphis, where Lenny’s home office is, and I went right upstairs and met Len Moore, the Lenny, founder of Lenny’s Sub Shop, and spent a few hours with him. Then I talked to my daughter, who was about to graduate from Southern Miss, and told her about it and she said “Oh yeah, I love Lenny’s!” and I learned then that there had been a Lenny’s in my own home town of Hattiesburg, MS all along, but I was working so much I didn’t even know about it! So with my daughter on board and my two younger sons, still in college, saying they were interested too, Len suggested that we take over a couple corporate stores in Atlanta, so we checked them out, liked them, and packed up and moved! We took over 2 stores—the Austell location and another in Morrow, GA, at Southlake Mall. My daughter and her husband ran the Southlake store and did a great job for years until Chick-Fil-A came in and got them to work there. So now my youngest son, Kevin, who majored in hotel management and hospitality, runs the Southlake store, and is doing a great job! I call him my “mini-me!” He really cares about the customers and the people and has been with me through all the economical ups and downs.

Q: How do you see the brand connecting with your local community?
A: We have a great relationship with the Cobb County police department. We help sponsor and feel the Explorers, a program they do for young people, getting them to stay away from things like drugs and gangs by building positive relationships with local law enforcement. We used to sponsor all the high schools, feed the football team, but that got very expensive so we had to cut back when the economy got rough.

Q: What are your future goals? Development plans?
A: We do plan on opening more stores someday, but we’re waiting on the economy. We had a turndown in 2007 and things stayed down in 2008 and 2009. We’ve had some improvement this year but I’m going to wait until things are a little steadier before opening up another store.

Lenny's featured in the Wall Street Journal

The Wall Street Journal recently featured Lenny’s Sub Shop franchisee Bruce Longmore. Longmore discusses with WSJ reporter Julie Bennett how strategies he picked up in corporate America have helped him achieve success as a franchise owner and operator. Longmore owns two Lenny’s locations. One in Cumming, GA and the other in Alpharetta, GA. He was recently recognized with seven awards for his achievements in 2009-2010 including Franchisee of the Year at Lenny’s national Summit. Check out the full article below!

Franchisee Profile: Lynn Hiller of the Two Overland Park Lenny's Locations

Today we are highlighting Lynn Hiller. Lynn is the Lenny's Sub Shop franchisee of the two Overland Park, Kansas locations.

Locations: 9343 W 87th Street, Overland Park, KS; 8327 W 135th Street, Overland Park, KS


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How Lynn Hiller Got Started with Lenny’s…
Lynn and her family are from Memphis, Tennessee, where Lenny’s is based. She is a long time friend of Lenny’s President, Brent Alvord and has witnessed firsthand the potential of Lenny’s success when her brother, Louis, opened a Memphis location in 2001. Soon thereafter, Lynn and her husband were transferred to Overland Park, Kansas and realized there were no Lenny’s in the Kansas City area and Lynn decided to leave her job of eight years at State Farm Insurance to open her first Lenny’s location in 2006. With the vast success of her first location, she opened her second location in Overland Park three months later.

What Intrigued Lynn Hiller about Lenny’s…
With her personal connections to Lenny’s, the success of her brother Louis’ location and the success of the Lenny’s brand throughout Memphis, Lynn was confident that this could be replicated in the Kansas City metro area. She credits Lenny’s superior guest service and large portion sizes to Lenny’s success as well as catering to local businesses and schools in the Kansas City area.

Something Interesting About Lynn Hiller’s Story…
Lynn was the first to bring Lenny’s to the state of Kansas and her two locations are over 150 miles away from the next closest Lenny’s location in Springfield, MO.

Where Specifically Did Lynn Hiller Learn about Lenny’s?
Lynn was introduced to Lenny’s by Brent Alvord, Lenny’s President, and her brother Louis, franchisee of Lenny’s in Collierville, TN.

Franchisee Profile: Michael Timbes, Franchisee of the Fayetteville and Bentonville, AR Locations

Today we will be highlighting Michael Timbes, the franchisee of the Lenny's Sub Shops in Fayetteville and Bentonville, AR.

Locations: Fayetteville, AR; Bentonville, AR

How Michael Timbes Got Started With Lenny’s Sub Shop…
Michael, a 30-year veteran of the telecommunications industry, decided to escape the corporate culture and start his own business. To begin his search for his own business, Michael attended a franchising conference to get a better feel for his business options, as he knew he wanted to become involved in a franchise concept. After hearing the presentation on Lenny’s, Michael fell in love with the brand and knew that Lenny’s was a perfect fit for him. Michael began researching and found that none of the competing franchises were held to the same standards as Lenny’s Sub Shop in guest experience and freshness of food. Michael fell in love with the product; both the taste and portion size of the sandwiches and saw the success of Lenny’s in Memphis and knew that this success could be achieved in his home state of Arkansas. Soon thereafter, Michael opened his first location in Fayetteville, which was a huge success, just as he thought, and Michael is now opening his second location in Bentonville.

What Intrigued Michael Timbes about Lenny’s Sub Shop …
Michael was attracted to the superb guest experience including the personal relationships employees establish with customers by remembering their names and their specific orders. He also noted that all of Lenny’s Sub Shop locations are immaculate and held to high cleanliness standards.

Something Interesting About Michael Timbes Story …
Alongside operating his Lenny’s locations, Michael is also an Operations Manager for AT&T Wireless. To help him handle the work load, his youngest son, Kyle, and wife, Karen, are managers of his original Lenny’s location. His family-owned business will continue when he opens his second Lenny’s location in Bentonville, as he plans on making his son, Kyle, a general manager of the Bentonville location.

Where Specifically Did Michael Timbes Learn about Lenny’s Sub Shop?
A colleague of his informed him that there were franchising opportunities available for Lenny’s Sub Shop and sent him an invitation to a conference at the Hyatt Hotel in Memphis. Listening to Lenny’s Sub Shop’s presentation, Michael saw the potential for Lenny’s in Arkansas and immediately became attracted to Lenny’s Sub Shop.

With the vast success of his Fayetteville location, Michael is opening a second location in Bentonville.

Lenny's Sub Shop Featured in Biloxi Sun-Herald

Lenny's Sub Shop was recently featured in the Biloxi Sun-Herald entitled "Two Coast Lenny’s tops in customer satisfaction". The article focuses on the fact that both stores, located within a 20-mile radius of each other, placed in the top 5% of all Lenny’s Sub Shops nationwide for Guest Satisfaction. It also tells how the Ocean Springs restaurant was ranked No. 1 for speed of service and the Pascagoula restaurant was ranked first for overall atmosphere. To view the original article click here.

Two Coast Lenny’s tops in customer satisfaction

Lenny’s Sub Shop in Ocean Springs and in Pascagoula have been recognized for placing in the top 5 percent of all Lenny’s for guest satisfaction, according to the company.

Out of 170 Lenny’s Sub Shops nationwide, only seven placed in the top 5 percent.
Doug Wood is owner of the Ocean Springs restaurant and Steve Brady owns the Pascagoula store.

Also, the Ocean Springs restaurant was ranked No. 1 for speed of service and the Pascagoula restaurant was ranked first for overall atmosphere, according to the company.

(Read More)

Franchisee Profile: Steve and Susan Nichols of Lenny's Sub Shop of Gallatin, TN

Today our franchisee profile will be highlighting Steve and Susan Nichols, our husband and wife franchisees from the Lenny's Sub Shop in Gallatin, TN.

Location: 1025 Nashville Pike Ste 130, Gallatin, TN 37066


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How Steve and Susan Nichols Got Started With Lenny’s Sub Shop…
A church pastor all his life and corporate manager of a mobile tool company for eight years, Steve Nichols has had plenty of experience with both community involvement and corporate franchising. However, with a family of six to support, Steve was often forced to spend most of his time on the road, away from his four children and wife Susan, then a stay-at-home mom. Finally, Steve decided to quit his corporate job and look for something else, something that would support his family financially while also allowing him to work with his wife, to be there for his children, and to engage with his community as he so loved to do. Little did he know, a chance discovery on Craigslist would fulfill all these desires and more. Since falling in love with Lenny’s and taking over as local franchisees in June of 2009, Steve and Susan Nichols have watched their little sandwich franchise blossom into a bustling neighborhood hotspot, and they’ve done it all together.

What Steve and Susan Nichols Love About Lenny’s Sub Shop …
The Nichols fell in love with Lenny’s Sub Shop the first time they ate there, and their affections have only grown with time. Steve cited the value of the menu, the high quality of the food, and the ever-present atmosphere of friendly hospitality that the restaurant has exuded from the start. The Nichols have nurtured that atmosphere, making Lenny’s the kind of place where customers know they’ll eat great and be personally taken care of every time they show up.

“I truly believe that Lenny’s has the potential to be the best sub shop in the nation,” said Steve. “The giant subs are just that good. And beyond that, it has a personality that sets it apart from everybody else—small services and undeniable value that we’ll never have to apologize for. You never have to apologize for value.”

Something Interesting About Steve and Susan Nichols’ Story…
For Steve and Susan Nichols, it’s the human connections that make this business venture most enjoyable. While Susan tends to gravitate toward marketing while Steve focuses more on daily operations, the duo have what Steve calls “as much a of partnership as you can possibly have,” spending most of each day working in the shop together from 7:30am until closing. Family comes first for the Nichols—with four adopted children ranging in age from 10 to 19, Steve and Susanknow how to create a welcoming environment for young people, and they’ve used this knowledge to make Lenny’s a haven for the Gallatin community at large.

Steve and Susan Nichols’ Community Involvement…
Community involvement is very important to the Nichols family, and they’ve strived to integrate their business into Gallatin community life as fully as possible. As Chamber of Commerce members, they continuously support a slew of local organizations, from the local community college to the local church to the local high school, hosting spirit nights, sponsoring the marching band, and participating in a variety of other events. It is this kind of thoughtful integrity and dedicated cultivation that has turned their Lenny’s franchise into what it is today: a successful and beloved community restaurant with real expansion potential.

Lenny’s Sub Shop Brings Mouth-Watering, Mile-High Subs to Bentonville

Armed with a fanatical following full of folks often expressing their deep admiration of Lenny’s Sub Shops with three powerful words, “I Love Lenny’s”, the 150+-unit sandwich specialists, is opening a new Bentonville location at 800 SE Walton Blvd.


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A 30-year veteran of the telecommunications industry, Timbes decided to escape the corporate culture and start his own business. This will be Michael Timbes’ second Lenny’s Sub Shop location in Arkansas. He opened his first Lenny’s in Fayetteville in December of 2008. The new Bentonville location will be opening on September 10.

Timbes’ family is also heavily involved in the business. To help manage the responsibilities of running two restaurants, his youngest son, Kyle, and wife, Karen, are managers at the Fayetteville location and when he opens his second Lenny’s location in Bentonville, his son, Kyle, will be the general manager.

“The fanatical fans, the customer experience and the quality of the food are the reasons for my decision to bring Lenny’s to Bentonville,” said Michael Timbes. “Bentonville deserves the Lenny’s experience, and I am excited to provide the consumers with an authentic fresh sliced sub.”

Part of the brand’s allure is its commitment to its fans. Not all sandwich shops are created equal, unfortunately for the competition, Lenny’s has proven that. That's why hungry people across the nation are talking about the quick-casual restaurant serving fresh meats on generously-portioned subs for over a decade (the Authentic Philly Cheesesteak 15-incher weighs about a pound). Unlike those serving processed meats, Lenny's high-quality steak is from Philadelphia and is trucked in twice per week to its locations across the country.

Lenny's stands a step above the competition by offering dining services that other quick-casual restaurants don't. For instance, when you place your order at the Lenny's counter, you can watch while the Lenny's crew member slices your deli meat fresh to order. When you order one of Lenny’s authentic Philly Cheesesteaks it will be cooked fresh and served hot off the grill. Employees are frequently seen in the dining area asking if you're enjoying your food or if you need a drink refill. The average combo meal including chips and a drink costs about $8.50, and refills are free. Don't look for a garbage can on the way out; a Lenny's staff member will clean off the table for you.

“Personality and exceptional service have always been staples of our guest experience. We are confident that Micheal Timbes will build and expand the Lenny’s brand presence into the Bentonville market and experience success.” CEO George Alvord said. “We believe that in very short order, Bentonville will gain even more fans who love our brand.”

Franchisee Spotlight: David Taylor, Owner of Rockwall, TX Lenny's Sub Shop

Today, Lenny's will highlight one of their many franchisees, David Taylor of the Lenny's Sub Shop in Rockwall, Texas.

Franchisee Since: July 2010
Franchise Location: Rockwall, TX

How David Taylor Got Started With Lenny’s Sub Shop…
David has a creative eye. When he was making the choice about his future and where to attend college, he chose the Savannah College of Arts and Design. Upon graduating, he parlayed his creativity into a career in the film industry. For the past 24 years, he’s been working in the film industry on the technical end in lighting. While he enjoys working on movies, most of his expertise is focused on commercials. Twenty-four years later and with a six-year-old son, David began his search for his next career move, one that would be fun and rewarding while also being financially sturdy.

David learned about Lenny’s from his friend, Steve Brady, who is also a Lenny’s franchisee. His dad is also a frequent guest at Lenny’s in Pascagoula, MS where he grew up. He became interested in the brand a while ago, and has just recently been able to gain the exclusive rights to his hometown territory, Rockwall. His plan is to develop six restaurants in 10 years, but for now, he’s just getting his feet wet in real estate research.

What intrigued David Taylor about Lenny’s Sub Shop…
It wasn’t just through conversation with his friend, Steve, that convinced David Lenny’s was a stand-out restaurant. He tried the food for himself and confirmed his friend’s accolade of Lenny’s rang true. David said, “It’s just a great sandwich, and the quality of the ingredients we use is a step above.”

The opportunity to become involved within his community also excited David as his film career allows him to work with people all over the world, but didn’t give him the ability to connect with his own local community. David looks forward to making Lenny’s a community partner and especially involving the business in activities where his son will also participate.

Something Interesting About David Taylor’s Story…
David is no amateur to the restaurant business. His brother and brother-in-law own five BBQ restaurants in Mississippi and his family has been in the BBQ business since the 1930’s! While he enjoys BBQ, he was ready to get into another restaurant category and open up shop in his hometown.

Lenny's Featured in Appen Newspapers

More and more franchisees are opening their own businesses from all walks of life. Darren Anthony has a unique entrepreneurial story and was recently interviewed by Appen Newspapers, a family of newspapers in the North Atlanta Metro Area. A Lenny's Lover turned franchisee, Darren, a former Auburn football player, opened his first Lenny's location in Alpharetta last week. A portion of the article is included below and a full version can be seen here.

Auburn player opens sub shop in Alpharetta

ALPHARETTA - Lenny's Sub Shop puts the Authentic Philly Cheesesteaks and The Deli Fresh Experience as top reasons guests prefer this sub sandwich chain over others, and the newest store opened at 1605 Mansell Road, just west of Ga. 400.

Darren Anthony, a former Auburn football player, became one of those loyal customers a year ago when he stopped in the Norcross Lenny's Sub Shop. His own entrepreneurial spirit got kick started after working with other business people for six years within the franchise finance industry.

Sub sandwiches, salads, cookies and the Authentic Philly Cheesesteaks are on the menu. Lenny's caters and delivers. Call 678-461-8773 or visit www.lennys.com. The restaurant is open Monday-Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 11 to 6 p.m.

(READ MORE)

Guest Service 2.0 from Lenny's Sub Shop

Pretend you’ve just gotten home from a long day at work. Exhausted, your one goal in life is to microwave whatever is hiding in the back of your freezer and collapse on the couch. After fishing out a passable frozen dinner and waiting five minutes while cosmic rays bombard it, you make a sad discovery. Inside the black plastic tray is not the sesame chicken with noodles you expected but a greenish-gray mass of indistinguishable origin. What do you do? manyny would curse their luck and reach for the peanut butter, but for some it’s the start of a guest service encounter.

Guest service is one of the most important duties of any venture, no matter if it’s a $15 billion corporation or a mom and pop down the street. Although it’s impossible to keep everyone happy all the time, doing your best to keep guests content with your service and products helps create and maintain a positive brand image and increases word-of- mouth traffic.

In decades past, guest service has been handled over the phone, by mail or in person. Television not working? Call Sears. Chocolate malt milkshake not malty enough? Write a letter. Steak too bloody? Ask to speak with the chef.

The problems plaguing these methods are painfully familiar. They’re slow, unpleasant and, more often that not, rather inefficient. So why is it that so many companies still adhere to these tired and outdated forms of guest service?

Great guest service has always been a key part of the mission at Lenny’s Sub Shops, but recently they’ve taken the concept to the next level by using social media as another point of connection between the franchise and its loyal guests. By addressing guest service issues through Facebook, Lenny’s can solve problems more quickly and in a format many consumers are more comfortable with.

Take Robert, a Lenny’s guest from Arkansas. On a trip to his local Lenny’s, Robert was unsatisfied with a particular element of his trip and, instead of writing an email or calling corporate, he sent a message to Lenny’s Facebook page. Within 24 hours, he had a response from the Facebook page, apologizing for his bad experience and explaining the process by which the local manager would be informed of the situation. In addition, Lenny’s was able to send Robert some swag as an additional form of apology. The exchange clearly impressed Robert, who left a message saying, “I was thinking was never going to hear from somebody at Lenny’s again.”

Social media has many applications, but one of the newest and most promising is guest service. Lenny’s Sub Shops have blazed a trail by responding to guest complaints and questions through their Facebook page, transforming a traditionally slow and tedious process into a quick, efficient way to maximize guest satisfaction and build positive brand image.

Lenny's Featured on Daybreak on the Deuce

Lenny's Sub Shop was recently featured on Denver's Daybreak on the Deuce Morning Show. Lenny's franchisee, Nathan Turner, showed the audience how Lenny's creates its signature breakfast sandwiches, only available at a select few locations. The video clip is posted below.

Franchisee Spotlight: Sam Lampo, Owner of Bryan, TX Lenny's Sub Shop

Today, Sam and Frank Lampo, brothers and franchisees of the Lenny's Sub Shop in Bryan, Texas will be highlighted.

Franchisee Since: July 2008
Franchise Location/s: 3700 S Texas Ave Ste 550, Bryan, TX 77802


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How Sam and Frank Lampo Got Started With Lenny’s Sub Shop…
Sam and his brother, Frank, are experienced business owners and between them, they have 50 years of food and beverage experience. The brothers have owned multiple franchises through the years and Sam had decided to retire. Fifteen years after retirement, Sam’s entrepreneurial spirit kicked back in and he noticed a feature in the Houston Chronicle about Lenny’s. He learned that they were looking for franchisees in the Houston market for expansion opportunities and he jumped on the opportunity. He called his brother, Frank, and they opened their Bryan location in July of 2008.

What Intrigued Sam and Frank Lampo about Lenny’s Sub Shop …
After reading the feature in the paper, Sam and Frank traveled to Houston to experience the brand first hand. They visited multiple locations and fell in love with the proven, established product, along with the superior guest service. What attracted Sam and Frank to the Lenny’s brand was the proven product and the strong brand presence already in existence in Houston. With their experience in the industry, the brothers knew that this success could be replicated in Bryan. They purchased the franchising rights to the entire county in August of 2007. Currently, they have plans to expand into College Station, TX.

Something Interesting About Sam and Frank Lampo’s Story…
Sam and Frank are fourth generation Bryan residents. The Lampo family has lived in Bryan for over 104 years. The family is publicly known around town and has a strong tie to the local community. The brothers work with Habitat for Humanity, local schools, and local hospitals. They also have one of the highest catering ratios in the franchise system and credit much of their catering orders to the local university, Texas A&M.

Lenny's Featured in Oxford Enterprise

Lenny's - Oxford Enterprise - 6.20.10

Franchisee Spotlight: Andy and Jennifer McGee

Each week, Lenny's will highlight a franchisee. This week Lenny's is highlighting multiple! Today, Andy and Jennifer McGee of Daphne, Alabama will be highlighted.

Franchisees Since: March 2007
Franchise Location: 2020 Hwy 98, Daphne, AL

How Andy & Jennifer McGee Got Started with Lenny’s…
Andy graduated college from Harding University and worked as a grill cook for Lenny’s location in Searcy, AR while Jennifer finished her degree. After Jennifer's graduation the couple moved to Mobile, AL where they worked with Chad & Steve Brady at the Bradys' first Mobile location. The couple worked in three of the Bradys' stores before opening their own Lenny's Sub Shop in Daphne in March 2007.

What intrigued Andy & Jennifer McGee about Lenny’s…
Andy and Jennifer were attracted to the culture that surrounds the Lenny’s brand. While managing the Mobile stores Andy fell in love with the way Lenny’s treated their employees and felt that everyone that he worked with was part of a large Lenny’s family. They took pride in the superior guest service that Lenny’s provides and personal relationships the locations build with its guests. Their favorite part of owning Lenny's is the relationships they have with their customers and staff. Most regular customers are greeted by name, and the majority of the staff have several years of seniority, including multiple "original hires" from the store's March 2007 opening.

Something Interesting About Andy& Jennifer McGee’s Story…
Andy and Jennifer live in Fairhope and attend Church on the Eastern Shore. Several families at COTES (including neighbors of the McGees) have adopted children internationally. The McGees traveled to Port de Paix, Haiti in June and began the process of adopting two children. They began the adoption process in February, shortly after the devestating earthquake in Port au Prince. Lenny's guests are kept up to date via a bulletin board in the store, and some patrons donated relief items that the couple took on their trip in June. The couple hopes to bring home their daughter (Wayline) and perhaps a son in 2011.

Franchisee Spotlight: Jayson Scott, Owner of Lenny's in Horn Lake

Each week, Lenny's will highlight a franchisee. This week, Jayson Scott, is our spotlight franchisee.

Franchisee Since: June 2007
Franchise Location/s: Horn Lake, MS

How Jayson Scott Got Started With Lenny’s Sub Shop…
Jayson has the spirit of a true entrepreneur. For approximately nine years, Jayson worked in the chemical sales industry selling farm and industrial chemicals to large corporations such as Proctor and Gamble and Smucker’s. Jayson possessed the skills to sell a multitude of different chemicals to a diverse client base, and his skill set and experience led to great success as he became the head of a $10 million sales region. Realizing his own success and the amount of money that he was earning for his company, Jayson decided to exit the corporate world and create his own business, making money for the man who he felt deserved it the most, himself. Jayson was introduced to Lenny’s Sub Shop by a family friend and fell in love with the opportunity. He soon opened his location in Horn Lake in June of 2007, with his father in law, David Leake and wife, Katherine Scott.

What Intrigued Jayson Scott about Lenny’s Sub Shop…
Jayson fell in love with the quality, customer service, and brand image of Lenny’s Sub Shop. He saw the success of the franchise in other areas, and wanted to bring this quality sub shop to his local town, Horn Lake. Jayson was not intimidated by the small town of Horn Lake, and was determined to make his Horn Lake Lenny’s location thrive despite its small size. He creates relationships with his local guests on a personal level which ultimately leads to high guest retention rates.

Something Interesting About Jayson Scott's Story…
Horn Lake is a commuting community, so Jayson has been innovative in creating a Lenny’s Sub Shop full breakfast menu which includes bacon, ham, sausage, and egg sandwiches to allow commuters to grab breakfast on their way to work. Jayson is one of only a handful of stores to offer breakfast, and opens at 6am. Jayson’s Horn Lake location is one of only a handful of Lenny’s locations across the nation with a drive-thru in place. The drive-thru serves the busy commuting community of Horn Lake.

Lenny's Selected as Small Business of the Year

We are proud to announce that Lenny's Sub Shop was recently selected as Small Business of the Year for Forsyth County, GA. Bruce Longmore (featured in the picture below) accepted the award on behalf of his Alpharetta and Cumming locations. More information about the award can be found HERE. Congratulations to all that were involved in making this happen, it truly is an honor!

Lenny's Featured in Denver Business Journal

Breakfast sales booming for sub shop’s franchisee
Denver Business Journal - by Ed Sealover

Nathan Turner knew the franchise he wanted to grow, the city in which to expand it and all the locations with great traffic.

But he knew he needed more to be successful, as he was opening in the depths of the recession.

So Turner decided to add breakfast and delivery service after buying the Denver-area franchise rights to open Lenny’s Sub Shop, a Memphis, Tenn.-based chain specializing in Philly cheesesteaks.

Few locations in the 19-state chain had tried offering breakfast or delivery service before, sticking with Lenny’s standard lunch and dinner menus.

(READ MORE)

Lenny's on Good Morning Memphis

Franchisee Spotlight: Darren Anthony, Owner of Lenny's in Alpharetta

Each week, Lenny's will highlight a franchisee. This week, Darren Anthony, is our spotlight franchisee.

Franchisee Since: July 2010
Franchise Location: Alpharetta, GA

How Darren Anthony Got Started with Lenny’s…
Darren became a Lenny’s fan six years ago when he first visited a local metro Atlanta Lenny’s location. He fell in love with the high quality food, generous meat portions, and friendly atmosphere. Darren continued to have positive experiences as he dined at various Lenny’s, which led to his desire to invest in the brand with his own location. He realized there were only a handful of Lenny’s locations around town, and thought that not only should more be developed locally so that more people could enjoy such a great product, but also knew it was a perfect business opportunity that he was passionate about. With his six-years of experience in both the quick-service restaurant franchise financing industry and marketing and sales industry, Darren has confidence that another Lenny’s location in the Atlanta area would thrive.

What Intrigued Darren Anthony about Lenny’s…
Darren fell in love with Lenny’s for a few reasons. Not only is the food high quality (the deli meat is actually sliced on demand) but the portions are large enough to satisfy even an ex-college football player’s appetite. According to him, no other sub shop in the market measures up to Lenny’s great tasting, meat-packed submarine sandwiches. This value and quality kept him coming back time after time. Another unique differentiator for Darren was Lenny's diverse and innovative menu as well as Lenny's signature hot pepper relish. Lenny’s was the only sandwich restaurant in Atlanta that could satisfy both him and his family.

Something Interesting About Darren Anthony’s Story…
Darren grew up in California, but relocated across the country to attend Auburn University and play football. He met his wife at Auburn and after graduation they married and moved to the northern Atlanta suburbs. Darren and his family are still Auburn football supporters and keep up an athletic life style through local tennis leagues.

Darren is the father of a two year old daughter and a newborn son. With his extensive franchising experience and living in Atlanta for more than 8 years, Darren is extremely confident in Lenny’s success throughout the Atlanta area.

Lenny's Featured in the Mississippi Business Journal

Kelly-Green is Lenny’s leading lady
by Nash Nunnery
Published: June 6,2010

Oxford native owns 11 sub shops in state, which is tops in Mississippi Before she became a successful entrepreneur, Edith Kelly-Green worked for almost 30 years in the button-down, suit-and-tie world of corporate America. The Oxford native spent 26 of those years as a FedEx vice-president. “When I retired from FedEx at 50, I retired to do nothing, ...

(READ MORE)

Lenny's Featured in the Knoxville Journal

Business owner turns lay-off into a positive situation
By L Ballard

Dian Trosclair is a modern day miracle.

After 25 years in the highest reaches of corporations such as Federal Express and Service Master, Trosclair’s job was “outsourced.” So she walked away and followed her calling to give back to American communities.

“So I packed up and moved back to East Tennessee to start the second part of my life,” said Trosclair.


And the employees and customers who patronize Lenny’s Sub Shops across the country everyday couldn’t be happier. Everyday is not an exaggeration.

The first Lenny’s Sub Shop opened in 1998 in a suburb of Memphis, to satisfy cravings for authentic subs and Philly Cheesesteaks. Though Lenny’s was originally planned as a single unit restaurant, the tremendous reception from guests at the first location prompted rapid growth, and the concept soon became franchised. Lenny’s now is quickly expanding across the country.

(READ MORE)

Franchisee Spotlight: Louis Tansil, owner of Lenny's in Collierville

Each week, Lenny's will highlight a franchisee. This week, Louis Tansil, is our spotlight franchisee.

Franchisee Since: 2003
Franchise Locations: Collierville, TN

How Louis Tansil Got Started With Lenny’s…

Louis Tansil has a myriad of experience in the restaurant industry, stemming from his first job bussing tables at Ruby Tuesday. There, he worked his way up the food chain to waiting tables then to a corporate trainer and eventually he landed the position of Regional Director for Ruby Tuesday.

The desire however to be in business for himself never left his mind and after many years of learning the restaurant industry at Ruby Tuesday, he decided it was time that he venture off for himself. Louis spent six months checking into different franchise concepts, but it was his friends from Ruby Tuesday that ultimately had the greatest influence on his decision. One of his colleagues at Ruby Tuesday had joined the Lenny’s Sub Shop team and also Len Moore, Founder of Lenny’s, was the Director of Operations at Ruby Tuesday when Louis was there as well.

He bought the Collierville Lenny’s location from Len Moore in 2003 and four years after that he bought another two locations in Kansas City with his sister, Lynn Hiller.

What Intrigued Louis Tansil about Lenny’s…

When Louis tried the Lenny’s food, he was hooked, calling it “second to none” in the quick service sandwich category. Beyond the food being of high quality and fresh to order, Lenny’s took the next step to incorporate the guest experience into the mix, and trains each employee on the “Lenny’s experience,” so that every guest is treated with top notch customer service.

Something Interesting About Louis Tansil’s Story…

Louis desires to open another Lenny’s Sub Shop in Collierville when the time is right. Locally, Louis supports the high school through their theatre and athletics programs.

Where Specifically Did Louis Tansil Learn about Lenny’s?

Louis learned about Lenny’s from his friend, Brian Raspberry, who worked with him at Ruby Tuesday. He also knew Len Moore from his time at Ruby Tuesday and it was through these two people that Louis became familiar with Lenny’s.

Lenny's Spotlight: Memphis Midtown Location

Lenny’s Sub Shop #49, located at Cooper and Madison, is Midtown at its best. The Lenny’s motto of More Food, More Taste, and More Personality® is showcased to every customer in a family-like atmosphere. Melanie Barden is the manager and has worked for Lenny’s since she was fifteen years old. She still has customers that come in and remember her in those tender years, and she now is a mom of two boys. Eric Williams, who describes himself as a “sandwich artist”, came to the Overton Square Lenny’s relatively recently, but was recommended by a veteran. Eric’s brother told him that Melanie was “awesome to work for.”

Giving back to the Memphis community is a major tenet of the store’s purpose. In addition to supporting the Healthy Kids, Teens Fight for Life and the University of Tennessee Health Science 5Ks, the store shows true Midtown character through being a proud sponsor of the Wing Factory’s Annual Turkey Giveaway, the Cooper Young Festival, Rhodes College athletic teams, Memphis Theological Seminary, and concerts and productions at neighborhood churches. “We believe in giving back to the community while supporting the whole spirit of Midtown.”

Melanie Barden and Zack Williams from the Midtown store were a part of the Wing Factory’s annual turkey giveaway, handing out over 500 cookies and 1,000 coupons at 6 a.m., and distributing 1,500 turkeys to community families. “The smiles on all of those children’s faces at 6 a.m. in below freezing weather is what made it all worth it to me” said Zach Williams, a shift leader at the midtown store and marketing coordinator for The HK Group, which store #49 is a member.

Events like this are the reason that the Midtown store keeps such regular customers coming in, simply due to the fact that the employee-customer relationship is so sincere. Lenny’s was founded on SIP: providing great Service, with high Integrity in a Professional manner.

Melanie Barden, the store’s General Manager, who just celebrated 10 years with Lenny’s Sub Shop, is the premier example of a leader who exemplifies those values with a strong focus on customer service and satisfaction. Her employees work as a team with the goal of having every customer leave the store with the ultimate Lenny’s Sub Shop experience.

If you haven’t tried the chicken or tuna salad, or the best Philly Cheesesteak in Memphis, check them out at 12 South Cooper. “Our new French Dip Sandwich is rocking and now you can place your order online from home, office or your phone,” said Williams. “Lenny’s Sub Shop has been a proud resident in Midtown for almost ten years. We take our Midtown citizenship seriously and are always looking for ways to improve our service and increase the fun experience you can expect at our store.” Said Melanie Barden. “Thank you Midtown!”

Franchisee Spotlight: Edith Kelly-Green, Owner of 11 Lenny's Sub Shop Locations

Each week, Lenny's will highlight a franchisee. This week, Edith Kelly-Green, is our spotlight franchisee.

Franchisee Since: 2005
Franchise Locations: Memphis, TN; Oxford, MS; Batesville, MS; Nashville, TN

How Edith Got Started with Lenny’s…

In 2003, Edith retired from a 26-year career at FedEx as the VP and Chief Sourcing Officer. At her time of retirement, Edith’s daughter, Jayna, was a college student at Rhodes College and ate at Lenny’s Sub Shop frequently. She was the one who introduced Edith to the concept, who at the time had no intention of owning one of her own. Edith’s plan was to retire and relax.

Her main motivation for becoming a franchise owner was her family. Edith wanted a business that she could involve her children in. Her son had just graduated from Florida A& M with a MBA and had always wanted to be an entrepreneur. Now, he along with Jayna, are Edith’s business partners.

Together, they own 11 locations. They started their development in Oxford, Edith’s hometown. That location was for sale at the time she was looking at buying and it was close to the university where she thought she would have a great customer base. Initially, Edith had envisioned owning 10 locations and she has surpassed her vision. Edith and her family own locations in Memphis, TN; Oxford, MS; Batesville, MS; and Nashville, TN.

What intrigued Edith about Lenny’s…

Edith loved that she could be a business owner with her family. She was exposed to Lenny’s through her daughter and knew George and Brent Alvord, the Lenny’s executives. When she looked more into the brand, she was extremely impressed by the values of Lenny’s and the way the Alvord’s ran the company. It ultimately aligned with her philosophies and she saw an opportunity for a return on investment for her family’s future.

Something Interesting about Edith’s Story…

Edith is the only Lenny’s franchisee with an airport location. She owns the Lenny’s location in the Memphis airport, which is one of Lenny’s highest producing stores. She purchased this location in July of 2005.

Franchisee Spotlight: Bruce Longmore, owner of Lenny's Sub Shop in Alpharetta and Cumming, GA

Each week, Lenny's will highlight a franchisee. This week, Bruce Longmore, is our spotlight franchisee.

Franchisee Since: 2008
Locations: Alpharetta and Cumming, GA

How Bruce Longmore Got Started With Lenny’s…

Long-time Atlanta native, Bruce Longmore got tired of his career in corporate sales. Eventually, he grabbed hold of his entrepreneurial spirit and left corporate America to venture into becoming his own boss. For six months during his transition, he spent time looking into different franchise opportunities, but it was Lenny’s Sub Shop that really piqued his interest. As soon as a store in his area came up for grabs, he took the bait and closed on it in less than a month. In 6 months, Bruce was operating two locations: the one in his backyard in Cumming and another in Alpharetta, only a couple miles down the road.

What Intrigued Bruce Longmore About Lenny’s…

The foodies that they are, Bruce and his wife, Donna, always wanted to own a sandwich shop. They had been customers of their neighborhood Lenny’s for eight years and loved that the staff was friendly and the sandwiches were sliced fresh and cooked to order, not to mention, they loved Lenny’s signature hot pepper relish.

Bruce has completely ingrained Lenny’s within his community. He sits on the board of directors for the Rotary Club, is a member of the networking group, Leadership Forsyth and Business 400. He hosts a networking club called “Network for Success” at Lenny’s every Wednesday night. In addition, he is also on the Lenny’s Advisory Committee.

Something Interesting About Bruce Longmore’s Story…

Bruce’s locations are family owned and operated. He and his wife run the stores every day. Bruce’s son is the assistant manager and his daughter and youngest son work during their school breaks.

The Longmore’s watch The Food Channel every night.

Lenny's was recently featured in The Courier-News!

Memphis sandwich shop to open in Hikes Point
The Courier-Journal • May 5, 2010

Lenny’s Sub Shop, a chain based in Memphis, Tenn., will open its first Louisville location Thursday at 3942 Taylorsville Road, between Hikes and Breckenridge lanes in Hikes Point.

Franchisee Dustin Childers of Louisville, a commercial and corporate airline pilot, would like to open 3 to 5 additional sub shops in Louisville “over the next several years,” according to a news release.

The new business will give one free sandwich a week for a year to the first 50 customers in line when doors open at 10:30 a.m. It will also have $3 regular subs all day Thursday.

Lenny’s is about 12 years old and has 157 restaurants in 20 states, according to its website, http://www.lennys.com/. (Read More)

Lenny's was just recently featured in the Knoxville News Sentinel!

Harrington: Helping youth with job skills

Dian Trosclair considers herself a victim of modern-day miracles.

After 28 years in the corporate world, Trosclair’s executive position with ServiceMaster was eliminated last January as part of the weak economy and outsourcing.

It provided the perfect window for the 55-year-old Knoxville native to move back to East Tennessee from Memphis and become involved in the community through the five Lenny's Sub Shop stores she owns with her brother, Sean Norris.

"In my corporate career, charitable things were addressed mostly by writing a check," said Trosclair, who spent 12 years at FedEx and 15 at ServiceMaster. "I was never really able to get involved. I feel like this is my opportunity in life to make a difference." (Read More)

Franchisee Spotlight: Dian Trosclair

Each week, Lenny's will highlight a franchisee. This week, Dian Trosclair, is our spotlight franchisee.

Franchisee Since: May 2008
Franchise Locations: Knoxville, TN; Alcoa, TN

How Dian Trosclair Got Started With Lenny’s Sub Shop…

Dian had always wanted to return to Eastern Tennessee, having grown up there with her brother, Sean Norris, and she thought that delving into independent business ownership seemed like the best opportunity to relocate back to Tennessee. When the company that she worked for as Vice President of Strategic Sourcing & Supply Chain Logistics was bought by a private equity company, Dian took the opportunity to become more involved in her Lenny’s locations. Originally beginning as a passive owner of five Lenny’s locations, Dian has recently taken on a more involved approach and is actively involved in the operation of each location, helping during the busy lunch hours and interacting directly with customers to provide them with an exceptional Lenny’s experience.

What Intrigued Dian Trosclair about Lenny’s Sub Shop…

Having spent time looking for business opportunities with her brother for several years, Dian became interested in Lenny’s Sub Shop upon seeing the success of the Lenny’s concept. Dian also knew several people who owned Lenny’s locations themselves and had a great experience as franchisees. Dian wanted to be able to work with the public and be a part of a friendly atmosphere, and she ultimately found that opportunity with Lenny’s.

Something Interesting About Dian Trosclair’s Story…

As a franchisee of Lenny’s Sub Shop, Dian looks forward to becoming more involved in the community. While working in the corporate world, she always felt that her work came first and the community came second, but with Lenny’s she feels like she is able to ingrain her business within the community. Currently, through Lenny’s, Dian donates time and resources to Youth Villages, to muscular dystrophy foundations and to a program called ‘Joy of Music’, which provides music lessons to underprivileged children, and Shriners. Dian has seen first hand how many of these organizations have helped her friend’s children overcome difficult illnesses and handicaps. Over the next few years, Dian looks to become involved with additional organizations throughout the community.

For more information about Dian Trosclair, Lenny's Sub Shop or the Lenny's Sub Shop franchise opportunity, please visit http://www.lennys.com/.

Lenny's was recently featured in the Commercial Appeal!

Memphis sandwich-maker Lenny's is saturating local market
By Toby Sells

When a new Lenny's Sub Shop opens at Main and Peabody Monday, the Memphis sandwich-maker will have nearly saturated its hometown market.

The new store at 153 Main will open in the spot formerly occupied by Blues City Pastry. The high-traffic corner is the end of the Main Street Mall, sits right on the trolley line and is a gateway to the South Main and Beale Street entertainment corridors.

The new Lenny's is opening less than a mile from a current Downtown location at 22 N. Front.

"It's right in the heart of Downtown and is an extremely high-traffic area," said franchise co-owner Lawson Fisher. "The timing was right, and it's just a great location." (Read More)

Lenny's was recently featured in the Memphis Daily News!

Land of Lenny's

Second Downtown location saturates market
TOM WILEMON | The Daily News

With the opening of a second Downtown Lenny’s, the Memphis-born restaurant chain has the city covered as good as the hot pepper relish on its signature subs.

The new restaurant, slated to open Monday at153 S. Main St., is just a short jaunt of seven blocks - not even a half-mile - from the existing one at 22 N. Front St.

There are so many Lenny’s in Memphis that it’s just about impossible to open a new franchise unless it’s Downtown.

“We give a 1-mile radius in terms of a defined area that a franchise has around a location except for a downtown area, where it can have higher density,” said Brent Alvord, president of Lenny’s.

Older franchise agreements allow exclusive rights within a 2-mile radius. About 30 Lenny’s stores are in the greater Memphis area, accounting for almost one-fifth of all the franchises in the United States. (Read More)

Lenny's Opens New Location in Louisville!

Lenny’s Sub Shop Brings Mouth-Watering, Mile-High Subs to Louisville for the First Time
Equipped with a Fanatical Following, and Plentiful Portions, Sub Shop Franchise Expands in Louisville

Memphis, Tennessee – Armed with a fanatical following full of folks often expressing their deep admiration of Lenny’s Sub Shops with three powerful words, “I Love Lenny’s”, the 157-unit sandwich specialist, is opening a location in Louisville for the very first time and to show their enthusiasm to enter the market, Lenny’s Sub Shop is rewarding fanatics and first time customers with free subs for a year.

Whoever said “there is no such thing as a free lunch” will eat their words on May 6, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. when Lenny’s Sub Shop will award the first 50 guests in line a free sub each week for an entire year and $3 regular-sized subs all day. The new Lenny’s is located at 3942 Taylorsville Road.

Dustin Childers, a long-time airline pilot flying both commercial and corporate jets, is responsible for giving Louisville its first taste of the Memphis-based sub shop that has expanded into a national success. Childers grew up with Lenny’s Sub Shop and his nostalgia for the brand encouraged him to become a Lenny’s Sub Shop business owner.

“Our huge grand opening celebration is going to encourage trial of Lenny’s among Louisville consumers and I’m 100% positive once they experience Lenny’s, they’ll be a lifelong customer,” said Childers. “I am excited to provide Louisville consumers with an authentic fresh sliced sub made to order, all while delivering the Lenny’s experience.”

Part of the brand’s allure is its commitment to its fans. Not all sandwich shops are created equal, unfortunately for the competition, Lenny’s has proven that. That's why hungry people across the nation are talking about the quick-casual restaurant serving fresh meats on generously-portioned subs for over a decade (the Authentic Philly Cheesesteak 15-incher weighs about a pound). Unlike those serving processed meats, Lenny's high-quality steak is from Philadelphia and is trucked twice per week to its locations across the country.

Lenny's stands a step above the competition by offering dining services that other quick-casual restaurants don't. For instance, when you place your order at the deli case, you can watch while the Lenny's crew member slices the meat and cheese fresh to order. Employees are frequently seen in the dining area asking if you're enjoying your food or if you need a drink refill. The average combo meal including chips and a drink costs about $8.50, and refills are free. Don't look for a garbage can on the way out; a Lenny's staff member will clean off the table for you.

“Exceptional service has always been a staple to our guest experience. I think Social Media has widened that scope of demand even deeper. Positive word of mouth now spreads electronically throughout our Social Media footprint, and it is vital for us to maintain that positive buzz,” Brent Alvord said. “Our commitment, across every part of the restaurant, can be seen in the way our fans rave about our brand.”

Franchisee Spotlight: Dustin Childers

Each week, Lenny's will highlight a franchisee. This week, Dustin Childers, is our spotlight franchisee.

Franchisee Since: May 2009
Franchise Locations: 3942 Taylorsville Road, Louisville, KY

How Dustin Childers Got Started With Lenny’s Sub Shop…

Dustin got involved in the airline industry as a pilot flying commercially at first for Northwest Airlink and then transitioned into flying as a corporate pilot, which is still what he does today. With his family as his main priority, Dustin was eager to become an entrepreneur and build a business with his family. Being from Memphis, Dustin had experienced Lenny’s Sub Shop growing up and fell in love with the brand as a consumer. At the point of his wanting to become a business owner, Dustin’s nostalgia for Lenny’s encouraged him to check out Lenny’s franchise opportunities. Louisville, where Dustin is currently living, does not have a Lenny’s location and so Dustin thought that Louisville would benefit from the “Lenny’s experience.”

Now, Dustin will be the first Lenny’s franchisee to put a new twist on a Lenny’s new opening. On his grand opening day, May 6, the first 50 people in line will receive free subs for a year in addition to $3 regular subs for the entire day.

What Intrigued Dustin Childers about Lenny’s Sub Shop…

Dustin was first intrigued by Lenny’s as a customer growing up in Memphis. He was a frequent visitor of Lenny’s and was impressed every time by the great customer service he received. Dustin loved the fresh food, which is made to order, and the superior customer service, which comprises the “Lenny’s experience.”

Something Interesting About Dustin Childers’ Story…

Outside of work, Dustin spends the majority of his free time with his family. He has two children, ages 4 and 2. Dustin is also a baseball fan as he played baseball while in college.

For more information about Dustin Childers, Lenny's Sub Shop, or the Lenny's Sub Shop franchise opportunity, please visit http://www.lennys.com.