Schlotzsky’s-Cinnabon-Carvel opens in Magnolia, TX

Get your buns to our new Schlotzsky’s-Cinnabon-Carvel in Magnolia at 6209 FM 1488, Suite A!  Doors open at 10am on Thursday, April 11. First 100 people to buy a Cinnabon 6-Pack will get FREE Schlotzsky’s for a YEAR! Join our Bun & Fun eClub and you could win an iPad mini. The day will be full of fun, games, prizes and more. Don’t miss out!

*One small The Original sandwich per week at this location for 52 consecutive weeks commencing on April 12, 2013 and expiring on April 12, 2014. Only valid for persons 18 years or older. Offer valid only at the Magnolia Schlotzsky’s. 

Serving sandwiches for a quarter century

Schlotzsky’s Deli celebrates 25 years in Battle Creek

Written by

Jennifer Bowman

The Enquirer

Schlotzsky’s celebrates 25 years in Battle Creek

Eric Kitchen said he hears it at least three times a week.

“So many people pull off the highway and come here to eat and say, ‘I cannot believe I found a Schlotzsky’s. This is the best sandwich on the planet. Do people in Battle Creek know how lucky they are?’” said the 48-year-old. “We get that a lot.”

This month marks 25 years since Kitchen moved back to his hometown from Oklahoma City to open Schlotzsky’s Deli, a Texas-based sandwich shop. He now operates three locations in Battle Creek — on B Drive North, West Michigan Avenue and South 20th Street — and one in Portage on South Westnedge Avenue.

Not bad for a guy who brought a national franchise restaurant to Michigan for the first time when he was just 23 years old.

“I determined that from the restaurant business,” he said, “to be 100 percent committed, the only way to do it is to start something yourself.”

That commitment is clear through his customer service. Kitchen said it’s difficult to choose what has been most rewarding for him since he began the business. It could be the young locals he employed throughout the years, he said, or catering a funeral to fulfill a man’s request. Once, he said, they hustled all night to prepare to cater a 1,500-person event before realizing they hadn’t figured out a way to transport all the food.

But what comes easy for Kitchen is revealing how he has managed to keep his doors open for decades.

“Business isn’t that complicated,” Kitchen said. “If a customer leaves with a smile on their face, telling themselves they’re going to be back soon, then we’ve done our job.”

General Manager Jim Keating — who Kitchen said has been on the team since day one and also acts as a minority owner — agreed.

“It comes down to taking care of your customer,” he said. “If you take care of your customer — give them great service, give them a great product at a reasonable price — they’re going to come back. It all comes down to customer service. That’s the most important thing, is taking care of the customer and treating them like family. And we do that everyday.”

Schlotzsky’s opened in 1971 in Austin, Texas. It was home to a “single, one-of-a-kind sandwich,” according to its website, and now is an international franchise with locations in 35 states and four countries. Its menu has been expanded to offer salads, soups and pizzas.

Kitchen said being in business in 25 years has made it impossible to escape any economic downturn. A company that once boasted dozens of locations throughout the state, Kitchen is now the only remaining franchise operator. He closed his Marshall location about a year ago when it was decided that the cost of revamping the store and taking care of small children at home was too much.

While they used to have a heavy focus on growth, Kitchen said they’re now looking to provide the best quality of customer service at their current locations.

“I think if you do a darn good job, there’s room in the economy for a business,” he said. “There’s much more competition in town than there was when we first started. But I think more people dine out. I think that’s always skewing upward.”

But what has helped, Keating said, is the duo’s close connection to the community. Both are Lakeview High School graduates and work to help with community and school events on behalf of the business.

“Seeing those kids coming in everyday and supporting them, as well as them supporting us, I think is very important,” he said. “The parents and the families appreciate that as much as we appreciate their business. So you try to help out everybody as much as you can and give back as much as you can, and that’s what helped us grow.”

And there are no plans to stop now.

“We probably have 25 more years in us,” Kitchen said.

Source: Battle Creek Enquirer

Let Schlotzsky’s Take the Bite out of Tax Day with a FREE Sandwich

Join participating Schlotzsky’s restaurant on Tax Day – Monday, April 15 – for a FREE small The Original^® osandwich with the purchase of a 32oz. drink and chips. NO coupon necessary! Offer is good ALL DAY on Monday, April 15.

So make plans to visit Schlotzsky’s on Tax Day and snag your free Original.

*Valid only at participating Schlotzsky’s restaurants. Limit on small The Original sandwich per person, per visit. Not valid with any other offer, coupon or kid’s meal. Valid ONLY on April 15, 2013. 

Schlotzsky’s franchisee tops new restaurant with upper crust apartments

The 800-square-foot apartments feature crown molding, patios, microwaves and 50-inch flat screen TVs. Schlotzsky’s franchisee David Jones says the project has a Bricktown feel but is in Midwest City’s “Original Mile.”

By Jennifer Palmer

MIDWEST CITY — Schlotzsky’s franchisee David Jones took the company’s motto of “Lotz Better” to heart, adding posh extras to his new location here, including upscale apartments above the restaurant.

The $1.5 million project less than a mile from Tinker Air Force Base’s main gate is part of the city’s effort to revitalize the area known as the “Original Mile,” by providing attractive, mixed-use housing within walking distance to the Town Center Plaza shopping center, the city’s major retail development. It’s the first Schlotzsky’s restaurant to feature housing above.

The restaurant opened in December and construction on the four upstairs apartments should be complete this month, Jones said. The 800-square-foot apartments have a private entrance and will feature crown molding, granite countertops and appliances including microwaves, stackable washer and dryer and 50-inch flat screen TVs. Jones’ son, David, who manages the Midwest City restaurant, will live in one unit and the other three will be rented for $1,000 a month.

“It’s just like downtown Bricktown — in Midwest City,” Jones said.

Amenities continue throughout the restaurant, with a water fountain in the patio area, a media wall with flat-screen TVs and space for laptops in the dining room, tall booths, a cozy fireplace, baby changing tables in both men’s and women’s restrooms and plates to serve the sandwiches on. Jones said he didn’t want his guests eating out of baskets.

Most stores go above and beyond the Schlotzsky’s corporate model, but each was made to give the restaurant a homey feel because to Jones, Midwest City is home. His father, Kenneth Jones, worked for Tinker for 30 years and David Jones grew up in Midwest City.

Though a career with Pepsi Co. took him to California and Texas, when he decided to open a business his family could be involved in, it was time to come home, he said.

Jones opened his first Schlotzsky’s in Moore in the summer of 2011, which his daughter, Sarah, manages.

“When I was looking for a place to put our second franchise, Midwest City was at the top of the list because it had sentimental value,” David Jones said.

For Schlotzsky’s, it was an opportunity to re-enter Midwest City with an established franchisee, said Amanda Palm, a spokeswoman for Schlotzsky’s, which is based in Austin, Texas.

She said the company allowed Jones some flexibility in designing his restaurant and building, which he owns.

“We knew in looking for sites this was simply a good place for our brand. We wanted to be a part of the redevelopment efforts the city was putting into this particular area,” she said.

In December 2011, Midwest City published its revitalization plan for the Original Mile, a one-square-mile neighborhood defined by SE 15 on the north, SE 29 on the south, Air Depot Boulevard on the west and Midwest Boulevard on the east. Much of the classic, 1940s wartime housing built there was becoming dilapidated and was in desperate need of a face-lift.

Midwest City Mayor Jack Fry said when Jones approached the city with plans for a new Schlotzsky’s restaurant, he pitched the idea of adding a housing element. Jones, who has no experience being a landlord, was the first business owner to take a chance on the city’s vision.

The apartments are within walking or biking distance to the many stores and restaurants at Town Center Plaza and are perfect for somebody looking to live an urban lifestyle, the mayor added.

“It is a bold step for the city. We’re changing a little from suburban America to urban America. It’s time for Midwest City to adopt some of the architectural things going on around the country,” Fry said. “Sometimes, I think we need to think outside the box … and this was a place we could do that.”

Source: The Oklahoman

Schlotzsky’s-Cinnabon-Carvel opens first restaurant in New Jersey

 

Our first restaurant in New Jersey is scheduled to open on Sunday, March 24 at 10am! Join us for all-day giveaways and a chance to spin the wheel for various prizes. Join the eClub on opening day and you’ll have the chance to win an iPad Mini. Schlotzsky’s will also reward the first 100 patrons who purchase a CinnaPack™ of six Cinnabon^® Classic rolls with free Schlotzsky’s or Cinnabon for a year.

The fun doesn’t stop on opening day! During the opening week, the New Jersey Schlotzsky’s will support the brand’s national cause, JDRF, by donating 5% of proceeds to the organization.

Date: Sunday, March 24

Time: 10am

Address: 39 Nathaniel Place in the Englewood ShopRite Plaza

*One small The Original sandwich per week at this location for 52 consecutive weeks commencing on March 24, 2013 and expiring on March 25, 2014. Only valid for persons 18 years or older. Offer valid only at the Englewood, NJ Schlotzsky’s.

Vote for the Schlotzsky’s Bun Run T-shirt

 

Vote now! We have three great designs and we need your help to narrow them down to one! The winning design will be featured on thousands of Bun Run T-shirts. Click HERE to vote!

Want to join in the fun on race day? Head to http://www.bunrun.com for all the details and to get signed up! With a 5K, 10K and Kids’ K, there’s an option for everyone!

 

 

Schlotzsky’s Shatters Company Record With Agreement for 170 New Restaurants

Fast-Casual Chain Inks Game-Changing Partnership to Build Huge Presence in Southern California

In a historic deal with far-reaching impact in the fast-casual segment, Schlotzsky’s^®, the home of The Original^® round-toasted sandwich and famous Fresh-from-Scratch^® buns, announced today it has signed the brand’s largest franchise agreement in more than 40 years. Anchored by its new Lotz Better^® model and consistent positive sales, the partnership calls for 170 Schlotzsky’s locations throughout California, including Los Angeles, Riverside, Ventura and San Bernardino counties.

Each of the new restaurants will feature a new, contemporary design and an upgraded service model in which crew members hand-deliver food to the tables. In addition, as part of a co-branding deal with Cinnabon^® and Carvel^®, the locations will include counters offering signature treats from the iconic dessert brands.

“The magnitude of this franchise agreement is a testament to the growing strength of our brand in the marketplace,” said Kelly Roddy, president of Schlotzsky’s. “Between this agreement in California and multiple others we’ve signed in the past year alone, the momentum is incredible. On top of the obvious benefits the expansion is having on our brand, it’s also creating job growth in communities around the country,” noting that the new locations in Southern California will create nearly 7,000 jobs in the next five years.

After successfully completing its initiative to reimage its 350-plus unit franchise system, executives of Schlotzsky’s are focusing on growing in markets where there is a demand for a high-quality franchise brand. In this newest deal, Moe Vazin is responsible for opening the 170 locations throughout the market. Prior to joining the Schlotzsky’s family, Vazin experienced much success with his extensive management experience, accumulating a portfolio of supermarkets, manufacturing and distribution in the retail industry.

“Obviously, we look very carefully at brands before making a significant investment like this,” Vazin said. “We had many reasons for choosing Schlotzsky’s, but the key factors were its high-quality, fresh sandwiches, pizzas, salads and soups, the fact that we can offer Cinnabon and Carvel under the same roof, and an incredible management team that shares our vision of the brand in Southern California.”

Roddy added that Vazin perfectly fits the profile for a Schlotzsky’s multi-unit franchisee. “He’s a top-notch operator, and we’re confident he will not only uphold our brand standards and reputation, but knock it out of the park by making us the top fast-casual destination in Southern California,” he said.

This partnership comes on the heels of Schlotzsky’s signing a multi-unit franchise agreement in May 2012 with regional developers John Fehmer and Anastasia Rusakov to open 25 new Schlotzsky’s locations throughout Orange County, Calif.

With more than 350 locations worldwide, Schlotzsky’s continues its growth momentum by aggressively targeting markets in Texas and untapped markets around the country for multi-unit developers. These markets include: Atlanta, Charlotte, Denver, Kansas City, Miami, Nashville, Raleigh, St. Louis and Tampa, as well as other underdeveloped markets through the United States. Roddy added that, ideally, Schlotzsky’s plans to have upwards of 700 locations by 2016.

For more information regarding the Schlotzsky’s franchise opportunity, visit http://www.schlotzskysfranchising.com/or call 800-846-BUNS.