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.

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.

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.”

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. 

Lenny's Sub Shop Featured in the Tallahassee Democrat

Lenny's Sub Shop was recently featured in the Tallahassee Democrat in an article titled “Lenny’s Sub Shop opens first Tallahassee store inMidtown.”
 

In the article, Chris White and Derrick Crandall, owners of Lenny’s Sub Shop in Tallahassee, discuss their new location opening at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Thomasville Road in Midtown. They discuss why they wanted to go into business together as brothers, and why they specific why they wanted to bring the Lenny’s brand to the area, and what differentiates it from competitors. Brent Alvord talks about their future development plans for the area and state. 

Click HERE for the full article, or begin reading below:

Lenny's Sub Shop opens first Tallahassee store in Midtown

By: Dave Hodges

The brick building at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Thomasville Road in Midtown was once a gas station, then a dance studio, and later a cell phone store. Today it reopens as Tallahassee’s first Lenny’s Sub Shop.

The restaurant, which begins serving at 10:30 this morning, is the venture of brothers and restaurant veterans Chris White and Derrick Crandall, who have have plans to open four more locations in their Leon County franchise territory, they said.

Lenny's Sub Shop featured in Nation's Restaurant News

Lenny's Sub Shop was featured in an article in Nation’s Restaurant News titled, “Growth Concepts: Restaurant executives share franchising, growth strategies,” that ran on Friday, March 2, 2012. In the article, Lenny's President Brent Alvord talked about the reason for the brand’s growth optimism is based the cash referral program offered, and with Boefly introducing franchisees to new lending banks. He also spoke about the quality return for an investor in the Lenny’s system, and even included the number of locations openings this year with projected growth number in the next few years. Click here to view the full article, or begin reading the Lenny's excerpt below.

Growth concepts: Restaurant executives share franchising, growth strategies
by Mark Brandau

Brent Alvord, president, Lenny’s Sub Shop
System size: 150 units
Growth targets: 10 openings this year, 20 next year, 30 to 40 every year following
Source for optimism: Internal referral program, franchise lending brokers

We extended a $10,000 cash reward to anybody who referred a franchisee who opens a store this year. We offered it to our internal people, our Facebook fans and all 120,000 members of our rewards card program. The biggest source of good leads typically is our customers in our restaurants, because they’re avid fans who love our food and talk to us when they’re thinking about buying a business.

(Read More)

Lenny's Sub Show featured in The Destin Log

Lenny’s Sub Shop was recently featured in The Destin Log, in an article titled “SANDWICH SUMMIT: Lenny’s to host discovery day for potential owners.” The article features Lenny’s president, Brent Alvord, who discussed the advantages of investing in a sub franchise during a trying economic time period. On Aug. 9, Lenny’s will host a discovery day in Destin, Fla., for anyone interested in becoming a franchisee of the brand, giving an opportunity for entrepreneurs across the Southeast to learn what it takes to run one of the chain’s restaurants. Alvord said the purpose is to build brand awareness, and to let entrepreneurs know that this avenue of business ownership will allow them to “make money while having fun interacting with guests and building relationships.”

SANDWICH SUMMIT: Lenny's to host discovery day for potential owners
By: Katy Houghton

Lenny’s Sub Shop chain president Brent Alvord will be in Destin to personally show people another way to invest and earn money.

“In these times, people are still worried about the economy with the stock market going up and down,” he said. “But there is the option of jumping into a chain franchise and earn a 28 percent return on an investment versus 2 percent in a savings account.”

Boasting authentic Philly cheese steaks and the deli fresh experience, Lenny’s Sub Shop will host a discovery day at TOPS’L Beach and Racquet Resort on Aug. 9 for anyone interested in becoming a sub shop franchisee from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

(Read More)

Lenny's Sub Shop featured on Nooga.com

Lenny’s Sub Shop was recently featured on Nooga.com, highlighting the restaurant brand’s nationwide launch of its mobile ordering app on May 9. Brent Alvord, president of Lenny’s Sub Shop, explained that the company has always been progressive in terms of technology and that mobile applications are becoming a trend in the industry. Ultimately, the move will help drive sales and provides another way to enhance business, Alvord said. Fans of Lenny’s Sub Shop in Chattanooga, Tenn., said the app will be especially helpful when picking up to-go orders because it will decrease time waiting in line. Click here to view the full feature!

Lenny's Sub Shop to offer app for mobile ordering
By Chloé Morrison

Soon customers at Lenny's Sub Shop will have the option to order via smart phone.

"We've always been a very progressive company in terms of technology," President of Lenny's Brent Alvord said. "I think mobile applications are becoming a big trend. Our particular technology is much faster in getting the order done."

Officials said that beginning May 9, instead of standing in line at the restaurant, customers can order via cell phone and the meal will be ready when the customer arrives at the nearest shop.

(Read More)

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 Featured in Oxford Enterprise

Lenny's - Oxford Enterprise - 6.20.10

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: 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.

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)

Economic Exposure: Lenny’s Fans, Food, Experience Don’t Waver

Equipped with a Fanatical Following, Personality, and Proven Taste, Sub Shop Franchise Extends National Reach

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 specialists spent much of 2009 preparing itself for the next step in its brand evolution. Refusing to shy away from a turbulent economy, Lenny’s leaders went to work, expanding both taste and internal strength.

“Lenny’s has a fantastic foundation. We are taking the foundation and expanding the opportunity,” said George Alvord, CEO of Lenny’s. “Rather than regressing, as many brands have been forced to do in the last few years, we took this economy as an opportunity to fine-tune our brand from both consumer and franchise prospect angles. Our ability to reinvest in the brand during the toughest economic climate of our brand’s history has proven fruitful.”

In 2009, Lenny’s experienced executives saw a shift in the way entrepreneurial prospects were seeing the brand, too. In fact, Lenny’s opened 12 restaurants in 2009 and projects continued growth for 2010.

“The economy exposed many brands,” said Brent Alvord, President. “For us, it exposed our commitment and unwillingness to waver.”

Lenny's high-quality casual concept has caught on; the proof is in the numbers. The executive team and a small group of investors purchased the brand in 2004 from its Philly-native founder, took the 50-unit chain and expanded it to a nationally-recognized, 157-unit franchise with locations in 20 U.S. states. They revamped Lenny's franchising infrastructure by adding additional support and staff training, and new customer service videos and slideshows to help create the exceptional experience that customers have since come to expect from the brand.

Even though they’ve upgraded the business, "people appreciate that our favorite items haven't changed since the beginning," said George 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. Employees are frequently seen in the dining area asking if you're enjoying your food or 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.”

ABOUT LENNY’S SUB SHOPS
Since the beginning, Lenny's commitment to quality and attention to detail has gone into every restaurant and sub sandwich. This dedication has helped Lenny's to become one of the fastest growing sub sandwich chains in the country. Today, Lenny's Sub Shop continues to expand throughout the United States by offering franchise opportunities. Authentic Philly Cheesesteaks & The Deli Fresh Experience™ are reasons why our loyal guests say they prefer a Lenny’s sub hands down to our national competition. Why? Lenny's puts back what has been missing in the sub sandwich business - More Food, More Taste, More Personality!® For more information, visit www.lennys.com.