Fast-Casual Restaurant Chain Opens First to the Market in Chicago, Atlanta and Dallas
The beloved Penn Station East Coast Subs sandwich chain knows a thing or two about making their brand widely known. The company has been strategically signing development deals throughout the country with plans to grow out the business for the first time in major markets such as Chicago, Atlanta and Dallas, to name a few. The company has an impeccable business model that boasts a superior ROI and over a 99.0% success rate, along with its dedication towards creating a quality product to its loyal and ever-growing fan base.
Originally founded in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1985, Penn Station is an upscale, fast-casual restaurant chain. The company serves a variety of freshly grilled subs, as well as fresh, hand-cut, made-to-order French fries, hand-squeezed lemonade made several times daily and chocolate chunk cookies baked fresh in the restaurant.
PS DFW, LLC, owned by a group of partners led by David Sherzer and Dave Coussirat, recently signed a 15-unit development agreement throughout the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex and is on track to have at least three restaurants opened in the area this year, with rapid growth planned thereafter. The initial locations will be in Flower Mound, Southlake, and Plano.
“We are very excited to bring the irresistible taste of Penn Station to Dallas-Fort Worth,” said Sherzer, a Coppell, Texas resident who worked for George W. Bush for nearly a decade, including seven years at the White House and more than two in the former president’s office in Dallas. “We believe the fresh-baked and fresh-grilled sandwiches, fresh-cut fries, fresh-squeezed lemonade, and fresh-brewed iced tea will be a big hit here.”
Coussirat, a Flower Mound resident, has worked in the food and beverage industry in Dallas-Fort Worth for more than 20 years. He has served in a Director of Operations capacity for concepts such as Jamba Juice, Taco Bell, and — most recently — Freebirds World Burrito.
Alan English, a Penn Station fan since his childhood in Cincinnati, plans to have his first Chicago location open by Fall 2014 with nine additional locations opened within the next 5 years. He is targeting areas from The Loop, all the way to Evanston, Skokie and Oak Park.
“We looked at a few franchise opportunities in the past, and came close on one, but I just didn’t have that same passion as I do for the product at Penn Station,” said English. “I truly believe our product is second to none because everything is fresh and made to order.”
Joining English in Penn Station’s latest Chicago venture are his brother, Ryan, a senior portfolio manager at a large regional bank, who is both a CFA and CPA; and father, John, who is retired from Ferguson Enterprises, the largest plumbing and heating distributor in the United States.
Joe Quatro, 35, is also no stranger to Penn Station’s famous sandwiches. A devoted fan since being introduced to the brand in 1997, Quatro plans to have the first Atlanta unit open and operating this summer with 4 additional locations opening within the next 3 years. He is targeting areas from the perimeter Dunwoody area, Morningside, Brookhaven, Decatur and Sandy Springs.
“While a student at the University of Kentucky during my college years, I loved the food and was an avid customer. Once, while my father was visiting me on campus, we joked about opening a franchise location of my own one day and now that is actually becoming a reality,” said Quatro, who has had a successful career thus far as a banker and, most recently, a banking consultant.
Joining Quatro in Penn Station’s new Atlanta venture is business partner, Neil Viljoen, 38, who has been a multi-unit restaurant manager for major franchise concepts for 20 years.
“Penn Station has such a unique product line with its freshly grilled East Coast style sandwiches,” said Viljoen who moved to Atlanta from his home country of South Africa nearly a decade ago. “I believe that introducing the brand to the people of Atlanta will be the perfect new endeavor.”
Penn Station has approximately 276 restaurants in 13 states including Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. All but one location is franchised. Projections call for the opening of 30 restaurants nationwide in 2014. Markets targeted for growth include Kansas City, Richmond, Chicago, Detroit, Nashville and North and South Carolina, as well as a number of other existing markets.
For more information, visit www.penn-station.com.
