LENNY'S SUB SHOP: PHILLY CHEESESTEAK IS THE SANDWICH STAR AT FRANCHISE SHOP

LENNY'S SUB SHOP: PHILLY CHEESESTEAK IS THE SANDWICH STAR AT FRANCHISE SHOP

August 8, 2013

Jerrod Cravotto had a franchise
agreement in hand to open a second
Lenny's Sub Shop in Oklahoma when the
existing Tulsa store fell in his lap.
"I was in sales for 15 years and was a
regular customer here and used Lenny's
to cater sales meetings, so I was familiar
with the product," Cravotto said.
"When I got the OK for a franchise, I
came here to talk to the owner, Chris
(Brown), and he said he was involved in
doing some other things and would sell
me his, too.
"So I still have an extra franchise that I
plan to put somewhere in the Tulsa area."
The Lenny's in Fontana Shopping Center
was the first in Oklahoma when Brown
and his mother, Ginny, opened it almost
10 years ago, and it still is the only
Lenny's in the state.
Lenny's Sub Shop was founded by Len
Moore in Memphis, Tenn., in 1979. It
emphasized fresh ingredients and a
Philly cheesesteak sandwich Moore
brought from his native New Jersey.
The Philly cheesesteak ($6.55) was
among the three items we had on a
recent visit to the cozy, sun-drenched
dining room on the east side of the
shopping center. We also had a cold
Italian sub ($6.55) and a cold roast beefand
provolone-cheese sub ($6.45).
The Philly is the star of the hot
sandwiches - the restaurant's overall
best-seller, for that matter - and it was
loaded with sliced beef, grilled onions
and an American/Swiss cheese blend on
a soft, warm sub roll. The sandwich had
a saltiness that I found came from the
cheese when I checked the nutrition
information.
"The Philly is popular, but lately we can't
seem to make enough meatballs for the
hot meatball subs, too," Cravotto said.
Diners have the choice of about a dozen
items to add to their cold subs. We
added lettuce, olive oil, tomatoes,
pepper, mayo and pickles to the roast
beef that was stacked high with thin slices of beef, and it was a
winning combination.
The Italian included four meats - ham, prosciutto, capicola and
Genoa salami - along with provolone cheese. This one came
loaded with onions, lettuce, olive oil, tomatoes, salt, pepper,
oregano, pickles and hot pepper relish. The pickles and the hot
pepper relish, which was more flavorful than hot, helped give this
sandwich a pleasing, complex flavor.
The regular sub-roll sandwiches are 7 1/2 inches and have a halfpound
of meat and cheeses. The 15-inch large sandwiches have a
pound. The cold sandwiches also are available on a Kaiser roll,
with one-third pound of meats and cheeses, and cost a couple of
dollars less than the regular subs.
Among other items available are chicken salad, tuna salad, chef
salad, hot dog and fresh-baked cookies.
Specials include a regular sub (hot or cold) or salad, chips and
regular fountain drink for $8.80, and a Kaiser sandwich with chips
and regular drink for $6.60.
A menu for ages 10 and under has a turkey-and-cheese 
sub, ham-and-cheese sub, meatball sub or hot dog with 
chips and drink for $3.95.
Cravotto said Lenny's still handles catering jobs of all sizes.
"We deliver all over, as far away as reasonable," he said. "We
recently delivered a job to Fort Gibson and another at an oil rig
near Beggs.
"I was able to keep almost all of the employees when I took over,
and that has been a life-saver."

FORMER FEDEX VP BECOMES A TOP FRANCHISE OWNER

FORMER FEDEX VP BECOMES A TOP FRANCHISE OWNER

July 19, 2013

Edith Kelly-Green ranks as the largest multiple unit franchise owner for Lenny’s Sub Shop

In 2003, after some 25 years of service with FedEx,
Edith Kelly-Green entered into retirement. At the
time, the 50-year-old cancer survivor relished the
thought of having nothing to do.
“Which is what I did for about a year,” says the
former and first African American female vice
president and chief sourcing officer for Memphisbased
FedEx Express. It was while sitting in a
Starbucks and reading the paper that she learned a
local Lenny’s Sub Shop was for sale.
Kelly-Green’s daughter, Jayna, a college student at
the time and frequent patron of Lenny’s Sub Shop,
raved about the food and the concept.
Headquartered in Memphis, the franchise features
sliced to order submarine sandwiches and authentic Philadelphia-style cheesesteak sandwhiches. Kelly-Green
was looking for a way to create a legacy and ongoing wealth for her family. She made a phone call to inquire
about investing in the brand but ended up becoming a franchisee. Since she was financially secure, Kelly-Green
wasn’t seeking supplemental income when she acquired her first store in 2005 in Oxford, Mississippi, her
hometown.
Today, she is the largest multi-unit franchise owner of Lenny’s Sub Shop. Over a period of six years, Kelly-
Green purchased 10 Lenny’s Sub Shops in Memphis and in Oxford. Her shops average annual sales revenues
between $350,000 and $1.2 million. She currently runs her stores—two of which consistently rank in the top 5%
of all Lenny’s Sub Shop locations across the country—with her two sons, James Kelly and Ryan Green. In
addition, she served as one of five franchisees with a seat on Lenny’s advisory board until 2012. And Green was
the first ever recipient of the Black Enterprise Small Business Award for Franchise Owner of the Year when the
new category was added to the mix for 2013 to reflect growing opportunities for minorities in franchising.
Kelly-Green is in a unique position as a multiple unit franchise owner. African Americans are 30% less likely to
be multi-unit operators. Of all African America franchisees, 78% are single-unit owners and 22% are multi-unit
owners versus 70% single-unit and 30% multi-unit owners for all franchisees. A single-unit franchisee is a person
who owns one store and is responsible for the day-to-day operations whereas a multi-unit franchisee is an
owner of multiple stores that are typically sold at a reduced rate per unit.
Right from the start, Kelly-Green knew she didn’t want to be a single location owner.
“I wanted to own at least 10 stores. That was my objective,” she recalls. Her training as a CPA has been
invaluable; she knows how to account for every penny of the business as well as handle payroll and sales taxes.
Her background working with FedEx’s supply chain also proved useful in handling vendors, understanding
purchasing, and reducing costs.
Kelly-Green’s recipe for success and ability to scale has been partnering. She partnered with Marlin Harris in
eight Lenny’s locations until his death in 2009. When the two first met, Harris owned six stores, with different
partners. Not only was he one of the original employees hired by Lenny’s founder Len Moore, but he also was
Moore’s partner in the first three stores during Lenny’s startup phase. In 2005, Kelly-Green and Harris first
bought a Lenny’s Sub Shop at Memphis International Airport. Then in 2006, Kelly-Green bought out Harris’
other partners to acquire ownership in six additional stores.
“He had experience running the store,” she explains. “It made sense to combine his operational skills with my
skills in human resources and finance.”
The following year the partners opened their first store from scratch.
“It was a great location; probably one of the best-looking stores in the neighborhood, near the university
[University of Memphis],” she says. “But when the economy went down [during the Great Recession] we felt it.
People were eating at home and going to cheaper places.”
She adds the store has its ups and downs but is profitable. The franchisee also runs concessions for Memphis’
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium and Fairgrounds.
“Each store has its own personality; profitability is a function of your location, market, and employees,” notes
that 60-year-old franchisee.
Kelly-Green notes that much of her training at FedEx focused on customer service. Transferrable skills and
philosophy: hire the right employees, provide them with the right training, and ensure employees are
customer-oriented. Happy customers are repeat customers.
“That generates sales and incremental revenues. That is how you get a return as an owner.”
She adds that the decision to open more Lenny’s Sub Shop stores is dependent upon three things: personality,
profile, and profitability of a particular shop’s location. “As a family we are evaluating opportunities in our
current franchise and other brands,” she adds. So, “we may diversify our portfolio.”

Dining on a Dime: Lenny's Sub Shop Kaiser roll sandwiches less expensive option

DINING ON A DIME: LENNY'S SUB SHOP KAISER ROLL SANDWICHES LESS EXPENSIVE

July 16, 2013

JACKSON, MI – Every other week Rene Wheaton visits a Jackson-area
restaurant in search of good deals for those looking to dine out without
breaking their budget:

Restaurant: Lenny’s Sub Shop

Address: 133 W. Michigan Ave., Suite B, located behind Swan Creek
Candle Company

Phone: 517-782-2444

Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and Saturday;
10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Online: Lennys.com

What I had: While I love Lenny’s Chicken Philly sub, I often feel like
it’s more than I should be eating. That’s why I was glad to have one of
their new offerings on a Kaiser bun. I got a roast beef sandwich and an
iced tea. It was still a large sandwich and plenty filling.

Cost: The sandwich was $4.75 and the drink $1.75.

Other deals: Lenny’s offers 12 sandwiches served on a Kaiser bun,
including the classic and the veggie sandwich for $3.95.

Tasty Tidbits: Lenny’s often offers deals through social media. If you
are a fan of their food, liking its Facebook page could save you some
cash.

Origins: The first Lenny’s Sub Shop opened in 1998 in Memphis, Tenn.
The Jackson location is just one of three in Michigan, with the others
located in Lansing and Warren. The chain is much more common in the
south and has yet to spread to the northeast or far west regions of the
United States.

Lenny’s Sub Shop Highlights ‘All-American Classic’

Memphis, TN – To help celebrate our nation’s independence day, Lenny’s Sub Shop, a national sub sandwich franchise, is kicking off a two month long promotion featuring its All-American Classic sub in all of its sub shops nationwide.

With a value price point of $4.95 for this half pound sub, Lenny’s highlights the deliciousness that sets their subs far above their competition.  The All-American Classic is Lenny’s personal spin on the traditional ham and cheese sub sandwich by adding Capicola – one of their signature Italian meats.  

“I had our All-American Classic sub for lunch the other day and it’s really awesome,” said Brent Alvord, President of Lenny’s Sub Shop. “This promotion is bringing focus to our brand’s roots with the All-American theme.  Since inception 15 years ago in the heart of the mid-south with red, white, and blue colors, we have always taken pride in identifying with hard working Americans and providing hearty subs at an affordable price. ”

The promotion will also be supported on their website, their 90,000+ fanned Facebook page, and in-shop with red, white, and blue visual displays featuring “All-American Classic ½ Pound of Delicious for $4.95” content.   

“We really are making more targeted marketing decisions this year.  Look for continued exciting initiatives to come from our brand,” Alvord said.  “The quality of our big, fresh, and fast subs will always be the cornerstone of Lenny’s.”

For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/LennysSubs or https://twitter.com/lennyssubs.

ABOUT LENNY’S SUB SHOPS

Lenny’s Sub Shop features AWESOME half pound subs with premium meats sliced to order and Authentic Philly Cheesesteaks served hot off the grill.  Lenny's commitment to quality and fast, friendly service has helped Lenny's to become one of the most admired sub sandwich chains.  Lenny's Sub Shop continues expanding with great franchise opportunities still available.  Authentic Philly Cheesesteaks & The Deli Fresh Experience™ are reasons why our loyal guests say they prefer a Lenny’s sub hands down to our competition.  Lenny’s subs are big, fresh, and fast!  For more information, visit www.lennys.com.

Franchisee Spotlight: Joe Caravella

Q: Where are you from?

A: I was born and raised in Tampa.  I went to Plant High School – Class of 1979.

Q: What was your career before franchising?

A: I worked for the local police department for 25 years.  My sister and brother-in-law are also police officers. 

Q: How did you learn about the brand?

A: My son was a Lenny’s employee, and the location became for sale.  It was in our neighborhood, and my wife and I were already looking to open a restaurant.  When we learned more about the corporate side of Lenny’s, we really liked the opportunity structure and corporate philosophy.  When my wife and I had the chance to meet and talk with the CEO, George, Alvord, we were sold. 

Q: Why did you decide to open your own business?

A: My wife and I wanted to restructure some of our capital assets.  She was a schoolteacher at Lewis Elementary in Temple Terrace, FL (a suburb of Tampa) for many years in our community, and I wanted to put my pension to work and have our family involved in a business.  We have nine family members working in the store, including my wife, her mother, three nieces and my son.  We look at the store as more than a financial opportunity; it’s a social skills opportunity for our family. In addition, it helps the young ones learn and maintain business skills.  Specifically, my wife and I are helping them understand bookkeeping, management skills and customer service skills to them so they can survive later in life.  We have a good work ethic and we want to show them that success involves family work and service to people, which aligns with my work as police officer and my wife’s work as a school teacher. 

Q: When choosing a franchise, what were the criteria you used to make your decision?

A: We had already been looking to start our own restaurant and had a business broker. It was going to be a big restaurant in Temple Terrace with a 1920’s theme that served fresh sandwiches.  However, I was quickly convinced to become a Lenny’s franchisee after talking to Lenny’s CEO.  He had good family values and was interested in my wife and me.  Plus, Lenny’s food is not pre-made; it is very fresh, which aligned to the type of restaurant we already wanted to run.

Q: With regard to your previous experience, what skills do you feel helped you in your business?

A: At its core, police work involves serving others beyond oneself, as does teaching.  We bring this outlook to our business in serving our customers.

Q: How does your business connect with the community?

A: We are both on the board of directors of our local Italian Club, and my wife is on the Krewe of Italia.  We sponsor local community organizations and believe in giving back.

Q: What are some of your achievements (professionally or personally) that you think will help you along the way in your business?

A: I have always felt that anybody from any walk of life deserves our attention and care. No matter who you are, when you walk into our store, you are our number one priority and guest.  We love to entertain at home, and that’s what we are doing at work as well!

Lenny's Featured in The Memphis Flyer

Lenny's was recently featured in The Memphis Flyer in an article titled, "At Lenny's: The "Under 500" Menu and the Black Bean Kaiser".

The article features an interview with Brent Alvord, president of Lenny's Franchise Systems, LLC. Alvord speaks about the growth and development of Lenny's Sub Shop in menu enhancements. The new "Under 500" menu featured 9 sandwiches under 500 calories, starting at $3.50. Alvord also touches upon the decision by Lenny's to roll out all nutritional information voluntarily. 

Click HERE for the full article or begin reading below:

At Lenny's: The "Under 500" Menu and the Black Bean Kaiser

By: Susan Ellis

The first Lenny's Sub Shop was opened in Bartlett in 1998 by Len Moore, who sold the business to a group of investors in 2004. There are now roughly 150 Lenny's in 20 states.

"We're constantly in research development, looking at ways to enhance our menu," says Brent Alvord, president of Lenny's Franchise System, LLC.

One recent enhancement, the "Under 500" menu board — lime green and placed center, to catch the eye — highlights 9 sandwiches under 500 calories, starting at $3.50.

All of the "Under 500" sandwiches are regular menu items, only without the cheese or olive oil. Among the sandwiches are the roast beef sub, Mile High turkey sub, and the tuna salad kaiser.

Franchisee Spotlight: Chris White & Derrick Crandall

Chris White was born and raised in Ft. Walton Beach, FL. At the age of 16, he started working as a dishwasher for IHOP and worked his way up to become the general manager. He has worked with IHOP for 16 years.

Derrick Crandall started working for his brother, Chris White, at an IHOP and quickly moved his way up to an assistant manager position. He also worked for Cracker Barrel in Tennessee before returning to IHOP in Florida to work as a general manager.

Together, Chris and Derrick have a total of 28 years of experience in the food industry.

How did you learn about the brand?

For the past five years my brother and I had been looking for a business we could open together. We did a lot of research, and after my brother had tried Lenny’s in Fort Walton, he was instantly hooked. He told me about the restaurant and we knew this was an opportunity we’d be interested in.

What was appealing to you about choosing an opportunity with Lenny’s?

The support and backing of Lenny’s corporate is very helpful and unmatched in the industry. Since we both come from the restaurantbusiness, we know how important having leverage on contracts can be, and being a part of a franchise system definitely gives us that leverage. Lenny’s has been like a family to us and we couldn’t be happier working with them.

What makes your business different?

The Lenny’s product and the customer service we provide are unrivaled in the area. Also, with the experience my brother and I share, we have what it takes to be very successful with the concept.

What challenges have you overcome to get where you are now?

Acquiring the business has been a lot harder than we thought it would be. It took us about a year and a half to get bank approval with the way the economy is. We have also had a lot of construction issues as well. It’s just important to stay positive and we’re excited to open and serve the community.

What are your expansion or development plans?

We plan on opening five stores in the next five years. We would like to purchase more locations in Georgia and would love to be able to eventually open up to 15-20 locations total.

Do you have any other interesting hobbies or passions?

We both love to be outdoors and play sports – we love golf!

Franchisee Spotlight: San Antonio's Christopher Alford

“I thought, ‘I love food, I love pleasing people, I could do this; and hopefully, I’ll feel really fulfilled doing it,’” says Christopher Alford, 39, of his upcoming Lenny’s location. But this wasn’t always part of the plan. In fact, far from it.

The Kentucky native graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 1997 with a degree in Police Administration, and after graduating, moved to Texas to take a job with the U.S. Border Patrol. Additionally he joined the United States Marine Corps Reserves in 1995 and was an active member until 2001. He spent four years working for the Border Patrol, and after 9/11, he was hired as a federal air marshal. When his wife, who works in the medical field, became pregnant with their first child, Ethan, the couple realized that having one parent in the medical field and one parent in federal law enforcement wasn’t the most conducive lifestyle for having a baby in the house. Alford has spent the past eight years as a sales representative for companies including Ferguson Enterprises, East Jordan Iron Works and Medtronic Diabetes, where he currently works and will stay until his restaurant opens.

How did you learn about the brand?

Somebody actually brought it into the office, and I really thought it was a great sandwich. It’s a sub sandwich, so you really can’t reinvent the wheel there, but I’m a foodie; we live in the kitchen. We don’t eat out a lot and we just love cooking. I like to think that I know at least a good sub from a bad sub. I did a little research and took the family to a Lenny’s that’s just over a mile from our home. It was a damn good sandwich. Having been in sales and worked in restaurants – I bartended and waited tables in college – I recognized that this was a great operation. So I went online that night and began  researching the Lenny’s  website.

Why did you choose an opportunity with Lenny’s?

The atmosphere is fantastic. Their colors are red, white and blue, so it’s bright and inviting. There are no trash cans, but instead have people taking your trash from your table and refilling your drinks. I live and die by the service I provide my customers; therefore as a consumer, I expect pretty good service. At Lenny’s, it was excellent. Also, I’m kind of a nostalgic guy, so seeing the deli case open with the meats and cheeses in it recalls a bygone era, which resonated with me.

And personally, the rat race gets old after a while. I can’t be in law enforcement anymore because we have two young children. So I contacted Lenny’s to get involved. They’re bang-up guys. If they were jerks or pretentious, that would have been it. But they’re incredible, and I feel at home. I feel comfortable investing my money into this endeavor. I trust these guys, and it feels right.

What challenges have you overcome to get where you are now?

The transition from federal law enforcement to sales was trying at best. I had never planned on this. I really hadn’t planned on Ethan showing up, but he did, so some changes had to be made. My wife works in open-heart surgery. She’s from Costa Rica, I’m from Kentucky and we’re in Texas. We don’t have that familial support because we’re both 1,500 miles from our families. I had to do some soul-searching, but I had some fraternity brothers from Kappa Alpha Order in sales that guided me and assisted me. For a 27-year-old kid, having a new career and being a new parent was a lot to deal with during those couple of years.

What are your expansion or development plans? What is your end goal with Lenny’s?

My goal is between three and five stores. I have definite plans to open more locations, but the timeline is flexible. I think I’ll certainly have three stores in three or four years. Five stores will just depend on if it’s doable.

What are some of the publications you read? Local? National? What is your goal publication with your business?

I read Discovery Channel Magazine, Kentucky Monthly, Smithsonian Magazine and Texas Monthly.

Do you have any other interesting hobbies or passions?

I lift weights avidly. I’m up at 4:15 a.m. and I go to the gym. I do a 2-mile run in the neighborhood afterwards. Physical fitness is important to me. With life, children, that is when I can fit it in. I’m also working on my Master’s Degree in Military History with a concentration on the Second World War at American Military University. That occupies quite a bit of time in the evenings, but it’s great because the kids are in school and we study together. All technology gets shut down at 6 p.m, and we read for an hour. It’s good for 10-year-old, Ethan, and Isabella who is 7 years old. I don’t have any proclivities toward teaching but I’m a WWII fanatic. History has been a passion of mine for a long time.

Lenny's Featured in Memphis Business Journal

Lenny's was recently featured in the Memphis Business Journal in an article titled, "With new location Lenny’s launches low calorie menu".

In the article, which includes a great store photo, Lenny's president Brent Alvord talks about how Lenny’s Sub Shop rolled out voluntary calorie information for select sandwiches in all of its sub shops nationwide. And, franchisee Don Bomar talks about how since this launch he has seen a rise in customers. Overall, this article shows Lenny’s as a leader and positive customer growth due to this initiative!

Click HERE or begin reading below:

With new location Lenny’s launches low calorie menu

By: Michael Sheffield

Lenny’s Sub Shops has launched a new “Under 500 calories” menu that coincides with the planned opening of a new location on Pauline later this month.

The new menu features 12 kaiser sandwiches that are currently on the restaurant’s menu, but Brent Alvord, president of Lenny’s said the company wanted to inform customers of the healthy alternatives on Lenny’s menu. The sandwiches start at $3.95.

“A lot of people don’t realize a sub shop can be very healthy depending on which sandwich you get and what you get on it,” Alvord said. “You can eat healthy, or you can load it up with extra bacon, extra cheese, extra oil and extra calories.”

Franchisee Spotlight: Chris Procell

Chris Procell and his father, Melvin Procell, are spearheading the growth of Lenny’s Sub Shop throughout Louisiana, with the brand’s first location in the state opening in Shreveport in June of 2011. The father/son team is planning an aggressive growth strategy of multiple locations expanding across north Louisiana over the next decade. A recent law school graduate, Chris Procell chose to go into the restaurant industry, where he will be working alongside his employees making sandwiches for his customers, because he wants to bring Lenny’s great sub options to Louisiana.

Before Franchising, what were you involved with?

I graduated from the Mississippi College School of Law in 2010 and just recently passed the Louisiana Bar Exam. I sparked interest in the franchise business while in school and thought that north Louisiana needed a Lenny’s.

How did you learn about the brand?

When I was in law school I was introduced to the brand at the location in Jackson, Miss. I loved their food and I always felt like it was a great, young, family brand. When I moved back to Louisiana I wished there was a Lenny’s around for me to enjoy.

Why is this brand and a franchise system the right fit for you?

We are looking forward to the opportunity to bring a new brand to the area.  We slice our meats and cheeses fresh to order and pile them high on fresh baked bread. With about a half pound of meat and cheese on the regular size sub, and about a full pound on the large size sub, Lenny's provides an unmatched value for our guests' hard earned dollars. Our Philly Cheesesteak is cooked fresh to order and is served hot off the grill.

What are your future goals? Development plans?

My father and I have the goal to open ten stores over the next 10 years. We’re going to start with our first store in Shreveport, which is on the west end of our territory, and then will work our way east. Our second store will most likely be in Bossier. We want to open other locations in Natchitoches, Minden, Ruston, Monroe and West Monroe throughout the next decade. 

Franchisee Spotlight: Nathan Lee

“When I was in high school and my friends and I would walk around, I would say I had this goal of driving through a city and owning everything,” Nathan Lee says. “I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit.” The 24-year-old received his bachelor’s degree in finance from Georgia State two years ago and took a job with AT&T right out of school. After six months of leadership training in Georgia, the company placed him in Chicago where he managed three different stores for a year. But moving to a big city where he knew no one was a struggle for the southerner. “That year taught me that if I’m going to invest 70 to 80 hours a week in work, I want it to be with people I’d like to spend time with,” Lee says. “I learned an awful lot by being thrown into an unfamiliar territory with no true support system.”

Lee’s entrepreneurial dreams are supported by his parents, particularly his father Garry, who is also going in on the Lenny’s franchise. The two toyed around with the idea of one day opening a motorcycle shop, a hobby they share, but realized that the economic downturn didn’t exactly make that a viable option. Garry, 60, studied public relations at Eastern Michigan State and held a number of managerial roles at both General Motors and Honda. “My dad brings a lot of experience from his previous careers, and I’ve got the energy and excitement,” Nathan says. “He’s helping me out with financing, but as we grow and become more successful, I’ll begin to buy him out as he retires.” Garry says he and his wife are thrilled to assist their son’s dreams and that Nathan’s work ethic is second to none.

How did you learn about the brand?

There’s a Lenny’s in Cumming, Ga. run by Bruce Longmore where my family has eaten for the past eight or nine years. While I was in Chicago, I started researching franchises and Lenny’s came to mind because of the quality of food, the great experiences we’d always had at that location and the fact that it’s run by really stand-up people. Their leadership made us want to move into their type of organization over some of the others we looked at.

Why else did you choose an opportunity with Lenny’s?

They’re still a small brand, with only about 140 units. We were also in talks with Jimmy John’s, but with 600 or 700 units, it doesn’t have that tightknit feel. I’m only 24, so I want something that I can grow with. Lenny’s will give me a lot of opportunity in the future.

Once you open, do you have plans to get involved with any charities or do any community outreach with your business?

Gainesville has a lot of local churches, so we’d like to get involved and help fund mission trips or lend our experience to help further their work.

What challenges have you overcome to get where you are now?

The biggest one was moving 800 miles from home to Chicago where I had no family or friends. I was investing 70 to 80 hours a week, and not having anyone to really bounce ideas off of was challenging.

What are your expansion or development plans? What is your end goal with Lenny’s?

My goal has always been to run more of a holding company and to have multiple locations, so I’m able to supply and help other people finance their businesses. Figuring out the Lenny’s brand will give me the first start. I’m going in as the operating manager so that I can truly understand the business from the ground up. That will give me that knowledge base to lead at a higher level as I expand. Ideally, my goal is to have anywhere from five to 10 locations. That will be a significant impact, but it will still allow me to have my hand in all of the stores.

What are some of the publications you read? Local? National? What is your goal publication with your business?

I follow Ink, Fast Company and Forbes. I haven’t been back in Gainesville long enough to be too familiar with the local media.

Do you have any other interesting hobbies or passions?

We live on one of the largest lakes in the country, so I love spending time out there and wakeboarding. I spend a lot of time outdoors. I like going on motorcycle rides and enjoy pretty much anything with motors and having the ability to go fast.

Franchisee Spotlight: Anand Patel

Before becoming a part of the Lenny’s Sub Shop franchise Anand Patel had an extensive career in hotel management. Patel received his hospitality and management degree from Collins School of Hospitality in Pomona, California. After graduating, Patel moved to Atlanta and operated a Country Inn & Suites for two years as the general manager. He then moved to Franklin, Tennessee and took over his father’s hotel company running the operations for 10 hotels in the Nashville area which he continues to do today.

Why did you choose an opportunity with Lenny’s?

I was familiar with Lenny’s because there is a location next to one of our hotels in Memphis. We used to do about $30,000 worth of catering every two years and they came up on my radar a lot. I saw Lenny’s available in Franklin, my home, and decided it was worth looking into. Just from my experiences with Lenny’s I knew it was a great opportunity.  I knew that I would be able to develop the business in this area as well.

What makes your business unique in the community?

We strive to make every experience unique and take our service to the next level. There is a lot of competition in the area, so we really have to stand out with the service and how we treat our customers.

Are you involved with any charities or do any community outreach with your business?

We have done a number of fundraisers for brain tumor foundations.  My daughter has a brain tumor and this cause really hits close to home. It’s just a way that we are able to give back and we’re fortunate to have this opportunity to help.

What are your expansion or development plans? What is your end goal with Lenny’s?

We currently own three locations and we've seen 28% sales increases since purchasing. Ideally, we would like to develop further into downtown Nashville.

Do you have any other interesting hobbies or passions?

I’m a huge Tennessee sports fan! 

Catering With Lenny's

For the Perfect Mix of Food & Fun! 

Lenny's box lunches and party platters are the perfect solution for everything from office meetings, employee appreciation events, and conventions to tailgating and holiday or birthday parties. From 1 to 1,000 people, we can accommodate any sized gathering you may have. 

Joseph C. from Deerfield Beach, FL recently had this to say:

"Had an amazing experience with Lenny's of Deerfield beach, FL. Catering was a hit for a meeting we held at my job, only remnants of lettuce remained."

Check out our website for more catering info by clicking HERE. If you don't see exactly what you're looking for, let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you. We have many years of catering experience and have catered everything from light luncheons to large dinners. Give us a call. We want to be a part of your next gathering! 

Positivity

We take pride in many things at Lenny's, from the fresh products to the satisfied customers. Still, one of the things we're most proud of is our high standard of customer service and the outstanding employees that make it possible. The internet makes it easy and convenient for complaints, but we're often taken back and touched when people go to great lengths to give a compliment. We feel that praise deserves to be heard, not for us, but for the employees who represented themselves in such upstanding ways. We're proud of you.

From Shop #49 in Memphis, TN:

"I am filling out this comment card to send some due recognition to the PM staff. During my visit tonight, another customer was being extremely rude to the employees preparing her food - to the point that other customers were looking around at each other shocked. Rather than respond harshly (or worse, as we all wanted to do), they continued to give her the same level of service they give every other customer and did what they could do to diffuse the situation while she continued to pepper them with rude comments. I was impressed by their professionalism and the manner in which they treated her with infinitely more respect than she gave tot hem or than she deserved. Their manager/owner/operator deserved to know that quality people are running the store on the PM shift in particular."

From Facebook in regards to Shop #350 in Ft. Walton Beach, FL:

"The other day, I was on my way home from the grocery store, and I saw an older woman pulled over. Then, I noticed the kind stranger who had pulled behind her to change her tire. I wasn't surprised to see it was the local Lenny's vehicle, since the employees there are some of the nicest people I've come across, but I was impressed. I was a little surprised when I saw that it was he owner of my favorite two shops. No wonder everyone there is so incredibly kind. It starts at the top."

Lenny’s Sub Shop Announces ‘Under 500’ Menu Board Transitions Helping Spearhead Calorie Awareness Across Sub Sandwich Industry

Memphis-Based Sub Shop Offers Voluntary Menu Transparency for Additional Guest Satisfaction

Memphis, TN – Lunch competition has never been more competitive and to address the lunch crowd’s growing need to remain healthy during this important meal, Lenny’s Sub Shop, a 150-unit sub sandwich franchise, has rolled out voluntary calorie information for select sandwiches in all of its sub shops nationwide. Nutritional and allergen information for all menu items is also available at lennys.com.

Considering the sensitivities many consumers have to high calorie intake, with the move, the sub franchise will not only continue to offer high-quality sub offerings, but do so starting at a value price point of $3.95.

With the initiative, the sub franchise has positioned itself as a pioneer in the healthy, good value sub option for lunch-goers. They have also created a new category on the menu called “Under 500,” with specific menu items under 500 calories per regular order serving, which includes all toppings except olive oil and cheese.  Featured are 12 every day sandwiches, such as Classic Kaiser, Italian Kaiser, Roast Beef Regular Sub, Roast Beef Kaiser, Mile High Turkey Regular Sub, Mile High Turkey Kaiser, Club Kaiser, Deluxe Club Kaiser, Chicken Salad Kaiser, Tuna Salad Kaiser, Veggie Regular Sub and Veggie Kaiser.

“We are extremely pleased to announce the rollout of this new menu objective,” said Brent Alvord, President of Lenny’s Sub Shop. “Though there are no mandatory federal rules necessitating the mandate of information at this time, we want to remain a consistent and transparent option for our guests, so those looking to monitor their food intake can now better manage their particular choices. The way we see it, at the end of the day, the quality of our subs speak for themselves – we have nothing to hide.”

The announcement will also be supported in-store with fresh and targeted visual displays featuring “12 Fresh Sandwiches Under 500 Calories Starting at only $3.95” content. Featured with a lime-green color display, the menu items introduce a new visual perspective to the Lenny’s Sub Shop board, while simultaneously providing an inviting, intriguing and cost effective lunch solution for guests.

“A lot of exciting things are happening at Lenny’s, in-store and in social media,” Alvord said. “While we have visually tweaked our menu and shop display, the cornerstone of Lenny’s remains intact. The quality and value of our products won’t change.”

For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/LennysSubs or https://twitter.com/lennyssubs.