Jersey Mike’s is set to open at Montclair State University on Feb. 4 in the brand’s first partnership with multinational food service company Chartwells.
JERSEY MIKE’S
This is the Eatontown-based sub sandwich chain’s sixth non-traditional university location. The ingredients and offerings will be the same as a full Jersey Mike’s restaurant, but it will work with the student meal plan.
“[University locations] get our great product and our great sandwiches to the students out in the marketplace, and in some cases it could be the first exposure if they’re not from an area where we already have stores,” said Vice President of Non-Traditional Development Phil Capozzi.
People already familiar with Jersey Mike’s—there are more than 2,000 around the country—can look at the offering and “they know, ‘okay, that’s good food,'” said Capozzi.
“With our notoriety and viability growing around the country, I think that parents feel like ‘hey, there’s a great brand that my son or daughter is going to be able to take advantage of,'” he said.
Jersey Mike’s also has a five-location partnership with Madison-based food service provider Gourmet Dining and has operated with Aramark in the past.
Other non-traditional Jersey Mikes locations include seven airports, three military bases with more on the development side, two travel centers, and one casino.
A pilot “ghost store” concept location opened at Rider University in December. There are no registers in store. Students order their food through GrubHub; when the order is made, the student receives a text with a locker number and code. At their on-campus Jersey Mike’s, sandwiches are waiting for them in the specified locker.
At Montclair State, Jersey Mike’s will likely work with Chartwells to have a fundraiser for on-campus student organizations down the road, Capozzi said.
