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.