Jersey Mike’s Off to a Busy Start in Lebanon

Nine days into business, Lebanon’s new Jersey Mike’s has already received a big welcome from the community!

Bryan from Jersey Mike’s joined Brian Hash on Good Morning Lebanon to talk about the restaurant’s first week, the team behind the new location and why Lebanon was the place they wanted to call home.

The two Brians, or technically Brian and Bryan, started the conversation by settling an important issue first: how they spell their names. Neither got a say in the matter, so they agreed to stick together anyway.

From there, Bryan shared just how busy the first nine days have been.

A Team Making It Happen

Jersey Mike’s opened with around 39 team members and currently has about 37, including Bryan.

He said the employees have exceeded expectations while working through everything that comes with opening a new restaurant.

“They have just at every turn pushed through and exceeded our expectations,” Bryan said.

He was quick to point out that opening the restaurant has been a team effort that includes his wife, his brother Matt and the entire Jersey Mike’s crew.

“It takes a village,” he said.

That team has spent the first several days learning, training and figuring out how to keep everything moving while serving a steady stream of customers.

A Good Problem to Have

One of the biggest challenges so far has simply been finding room for everyone.

Jersey Mike’s restaurants aren’t designed to be massive spaces, and Lebanon showed up in a big way during opening week.

At times, the restaurant was so packed that Bryan and his team had trouble getting through the lobby to take care of things. At one point, having to hop over the counter to get into the lobby.

Those are the kinds of logistical challenges that can drive a manager a little crazy, but Bryan isn’t complaining.

“It’s a great problem to have,” he said. “We wouldn’t have had it any other way.”

He also thanked customers for their patience while the new team worked through the opening rush. The response is particularly meaningful because Lebanon isn’t just another location for Bryan and his family.

Bryan, his wife and his brother are from the area and graduated here. When they started looking at where they wanted to open their first store, Lebanon was an easy choice.

“We knew that the community had that character that you’re looking for,” Bryan said. “Having that intimate knowledge from our history, it was like a no-brainer, and they’ve absolutely delivered and then some.”

Giving Back From the Beginning

Jersey Mike’s didn’t wait long to start giving back to the community.

During the restaurant’s first five days, from Wednesday through Sunday, thousands of free sub cards were distributed throughout the area.

Customers who brought in a card could receive a free sub with a $3 donation to the Lebanon school activities department.

At the time of the interview, Bryan was still waiting to hear the final amount raised, but said he was excited to see the total.

That focus on community involvement was one of the things that attracted his family to Jersey Mike’s in the first place. The restaurant was already one of their favorite places to eat when they visited Springfield or traveled elsewhere, but Bryan said the emphasis on giving back made it an even better fit.

Next Up: The Ribbon Cutting

After a whirlwind opening week, Bryan joked that he and his brother Matt have recently been reintroduced to something they hadn’t seen much of lately: sleep!

There won’t be too much time to rest, though.

The Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce will hold an official ribbon cutting at Jersey Mike’s Tuesday at 9 a.m., and Bryan said the team is looking forward to celebrating with the community.

For now, the focus is on continuing to train the team, improving the little things and building systems that will keep the restaurant running smoothly.

Bryan compared the first couple of weeks to football training camp. One of Jersey Mike’s five core values is “grit,” and the opening rush has given the new team plenty of opportunities to show it.

As the restaurant settles into its new home, Bryan said the goal is simple: keep improving and be ready as Lebanon keeps coming back.

“We expect in the weeks ahead to have our systems in place and really be running smoothly for the community as they continue to come back,” Bryan said. “We can’t wait.”

You can catch Good Morning Lebanon LIVE on Friday morning at 9am. Available on YouTube, Facebook, Spotify and Lebanonmonow.com

Full interview :