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.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
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.”
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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.”
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
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.
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.
Friday, July 23, 2010
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.
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.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
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.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
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.
Franchisee Since: July 2008
Franchise Location/s: 3700 S Texas Ave Ste 550, Bryan, TX 77802
View Larger Map
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.
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