Jimmy John's Opens Fifth Local Restaurant at the University Village
Jimmy John's opened its fifth Hampton Roads restaurant at The University Village today. In addition to the restaurant adjacent to the Old Dominion University campus, four more are planned in Hampton Roads within the year.
Based in Champaign, Ill., Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwich Shops was founded in 1983 by 19-year-old Jimmy John Liautaud in Charleston, Ill. Since its inception, the company has grown to more than 1,400 corporate and franchised locations in 41 states throughout the United States. The company is known for its obsession with fresh, quality products and high-speed execution.
"We're huge on college campuses," said Gerry Rogers, the regional franchise owner. "It's the attitude, super fresh food and great prices that appeal to students. We are looking forward to greeting the ODU students when they return to school this August. And, we have been thrilled working with the ODU Real Estate Foundation to get this restaurant up and running."
Jimmy John's definition of fresh is worlds apart from everyone else's. Bread is baked in-house every day and served fresh. Meat and veggies are sliced fresh in-house every day. The turkey and roast beef contain no additives or vegetable-based fillers. Nothing is delivered pre-sliced. They use real Hellmann's mayonnaise, real Grey Poupon mustard, real olive oil and real red wine vinegar. Vegetables are bought from farms and delivered to the restaurants so they are the freshest possible. For menus and online ordering, visit www.jimmyjohns.com.
"We also expect to have a huge demand for deliveries," adds Rogers. "We anticipate reaching out to Larchmont and surrounding neighborhoods immediately."
"Over the past several years, ODU students have been craving Jimmy John's sandwiches, and they'll be happy to find the restaurant open when they arrive for the fall semester," said Tara Saunders, executive director of the Old Dominion University Real Estate Foundation. "Jimmy John's friendly and super-fast on-site and bicycle delivery service will surely win many campus fans."
The other locations in Hampton Roads include 21st Street in Ghent and Granby Street in downtown Norfolk, Greenbrier Parkway in Chesapeake and Main Street in Virginia Beach. Additional locations are planned for Janaf Shopping Center and Hampton Blvd. near NOB in Norfolk, Great Bridge Blvd. in Chesapeake and Suffolk.
The University Village is a mixed-use development initiative by the Old Dominion University Real Estate Foundation. The 75-acre urban village, adjacent to the Ted Constant Convocation Center, includes the Innovation Research Park @ ODU, restaurants, shops, student housing, a bookstore, an art gallery and the SpringHill Suites by Marriott hotel. Old Dominion University Real Estate Foundation is a nonprofit organization formed in 1994 that acquires and manages real estate projects in coordination with the University. For more information, visit oduvillage.com or call the Old Dominion Real Estate Foundation at 757-683-4504.