Freaky Fast and Freaky Fresh® Addiction of Jimmy John’s Sandwiches

WRITTEN BY: ALYSSA DAVANZO

At 7 a.m., you might be hitting snooze on your alarm clock, brewing your first cup of coffee or firing up your laptop to begin a day of work. Meanwhile, the team at Jimmy John’s Sandwiches has been awake for hours baking bread, chopping fresh vegetables, and hand-slicing cheeses and meats.

At 550 Boston Post Road in Orange, Jimmy John’s opened in August 2022 as the second location in Connecticut and one of the first in the northeast.

“Ever since I visited my brother in college and tried their sandwiches for the first time, I’ve loved this place,” said Will Roth, who co-owns Jimmy John’s restaurants in Norwalk and Orange with his business partner Mike Manno. “It’s an adored brand across the country with over 2,800 restaurants in 48 states, so we’re excited to finally bring the concept here.”

Fast Fresh Service

Notorious for Freaky Fast speed and Freaky Fresh® ingredients, the restaurant does not serve bread that is more than four hours old. Customers walk through the door of Jimmy John’s, order a sandwich, and have it ready and in their hands in 30 seconds or less.

“Our brand standards make us stand out from our competitors,” said Nick LaForme, General Manager of Jimmy John’s of Orange. “We have three people working the sandwich line on a busy day, one being the ‘bread starter’ who cuts the bread and adds condiments and veggies. Simultaneously, we have a ‘meat puller’ who gathers the meats and cheeses necessary to assemble the sandwich. The last person on the line is our ‘wrapper’ who greets each customer and rings them out.”

Nick has always been a part of the food industry, working as a cook for several years and then transitioning into management at Frank Pepe’s Pizzeria in Waterbury and Fairfield, CT. When Will and Mike approached him with the chance to grow his career at Jimmy John’s, Nick jumped at the opportunity.

“I was their first hire,” Nick said. “When I was in Champagne, IL for Jimmy John’s corporate training, I saw the restaurant on every other road. In the Midwest, the west coast, and down south, they are as common as Dunkin Donuts. When Orange residents see a new sandwich shop, I understand that they might be skeptical, especially if they already have their favorite mom and pop deli. People don’t like to break their habits or routines. That’s why we’re reaching out to the community and showing them what we’re all about.”

A Delectable Menu

Will’s go-to Jimmy John’s order is the #7 Spicy East Coast Italian sandwich, stuffed with double Genoa salami, double capocollo and provolone, hot peppers, onion, lettuce, tomato and mayo.

“I get it with a side of the Jimmy’s Kickin’ Ranch®, which is made by hand using buttermilk, Jimmy’s Peppers® and special seasoning,” Will said. “It’s addictive. As soon as someone tries Jimmy John’s, they keep coming back.”

The restaurant offers combo meals, cookies and their own kettle-cooked potato chips called Jimmy Chips® and lower-calorie Thinny Chips® For those looking to avoid highcarb foods, the Unwich® is a healthy alternative.

“Any sandwich on the menu could be turned into an Unwich®, which includes two iceberg lettuce shells that get wrapped into a sandwich burrito,” Nick said. “Compared to a regular sandwich on our French or wheat sandwich breads, an Un-wich® contains 10 grams or less of total carbs.”

Jimmy John’s prides itself on Freaky Fast delivery. Even a single sandwich could be at a customer’s door or office quicker than through a thirdparty delivery app.

DELIVERY & CATERING

“We have our own drivers, and if you order delivery through us, our goal is to drop off your order in 10 minutes or less,” Will said. “You don’t have to worry anymore about playing the 45-minute waiting game.”

Because of the way that Jimmy John’s operations are set up, the team can fulfill same-day, last-minute catering orders.

“Our catering is huge, and we have options for different sized parties and events,” Nick said. “Our 30-piece and 18-piece boxes with subs cut into thirds and to-go lunch boxes are ideal for school field trips and corporate events. A lot of restaurants require at least 24 hours’ notice, but we’re baking bread all day and we’re Freaky Fast, so we are happy to get the orders done.”

Jimmy John’s of Orange is open every day from 10:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Nick encourages customers to experience the best-in-class food and a clean, family-friendly environment for themselves.

“We’re a little louder at Jimmy John’s. We like playing funky music and screaming ‘Hot Door’ with the whole crew when we open the oven door,” Nick said. “I want everyone in Orange to get to know our fun, upbeat culture and come be a part of it.”

For more information, contact Jimmy John’s at 203-298-9824 or view the website at jimmyjohns.com. 