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Jersey Mike’s Subs is continuing to grow across Canada. Less than a year after announcing plans to open 300 stores across the Great White North over the next decade, the Manasquan-based sandwich chain has launched a half-dozen locations.

After celebrating the Jan. 22 grand opening of its first downtown Toronto shop, the franchise will soon add a spot in Pickering.

The international growth comes via a partnership with Redberry, one of Canada’s largest restaurant operators.

The Ontario-headquartered group’s 180-plus unit portfolio also includes Canadian locations under the Burger King and Taco Bell brands. Following its agreement with Jersey Mike’s, Redberry will have more than 600 restaurants in its fold.

Since August 2024, Redberry has opened Jersey Mike’s outposts in Markham, North York, Brantford and Guelph.

It also purchased and remodeled the only Jersey Mike’s sites in Ontario – a seven-year-old location in Kitchener and a six-year-old shop in London.

The puck stops here

Commenting on the grand opening at Union Market, a food hall at Union Station in Toronto, Redberry CEO Ken Otto, said, “We can’t wait to offer effortless access to our ‘sub above’ experience from the venerable halls of Union Station to countless Toronto commuters, shoppers and tourists.”

“We have arrived at the heart of Canadian commerce in Toronto’s downtown business district and we are just getting started,” he added.

To mark the occasion, the store handed out Jersey Mike’s-branded hockey pucks to the first 500 guests. It is also hosting a special fundraiser through Jan. 26 to benefit Make-A-Wish Canada.

Founded in 1956, Jersey Mike’s started out a small sandwich shop in Point Pleasant. Now, it is one of the fastest-growing quick service restaurants in the U.S. Jersey Mike’s has more than 4,000 locations open and in development.

The continued North American expansion comes as private equity giant Blackstone is expected to finalize its acquisition of Jersey Mike’s in early 2025.

As part of the reportedly $8 billion-valued deal, Jersey Mike’s founder and CEO Peter Cancro will maintain “a significant equity stake.” Cancro will also continue to lead the business he spent nearly seven decades building.

Blackstone has said the influx of cash will help the franchise accelerate its growth across and beyond the U.S. market. The company also highlighted Jersey Mike’s “continued investment in technology and digital transformation.”

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