photo #8828065

What a FABULOUS story! Jersey Mike’s began in 1956 in its original Point Pleasant, New Jersey storefront, then known as Mike’s Subs. Back then, franchise restaurants were rare, and Mike’s was a small seaside sandwich shop with a local following. In 1971, a 14-year-old local kid named Peter Cancro took a part-time job there. The shop sat just a few blocks from Point Pleasant Beach High School. When it went up for sale again in 1975, Cancro’s mother encouraged him to buy it. With the help of his football coach, who was also a banker, Cancro secured $125,000 in just three days. At 17, he became the owner. Today, he’s the company’s CEO. Franchising began in 1987. By 2014, Jersey Mike’s had 750 locations and another 650 in development. In 2015, the brand passed 1,000 locations, expanding heavily on the West Coast, especially Southern California. The original Trenton Avenue shop still operates as a training center. In January 2024, Jersey Mike’s announced a major international move: a partnership with Redberry Restaurants to expand into Canada, aiming for 300 locations over the next decade.