Jimmy johns

I know this has been talked about before, but I continue to be at a total loss. A new one opened up near me and since I hadn't been in about 2 years, I figured that since they are sprouting up everywhere, they must have changed. Alas, no. Bad bread. Marginal meat. few toppings. no sauces other than mayonaise. How do these guys not only survive, but prosper? I rarely eat at McDonalds, but totally understand why it exists in its marketplace. The marketplace for Jimmy Johns is Subway, Quiznos, Potbelly, Panera at the very upper end and many local shops. Does anyone here go to Jimmy Johns before any other similar restaurant?

Yes. Caveat: I only ever order "Italian" subs at these places. And I don't require my sub toasted.

Yes, it's easy to tire of them:

but,

I like JJ's bread(it's not that spongy sweet shit from Subway)

I like their direct take on an Italian(Vito/No. 5) sub

no, JJ's, I do not want a hidden upcharge for bitter non-spicy peppers, thank you

compared to:

Subway: that horrific ersatz "bakery" stench that's seemingly piped in to every storefront/the execrable "meats"/ the quasi cheese

Quizno's: where I've been exactly 3 times over the years and each time at different franchises the sandwiches are ridiculously oversauced and the waitstaff/managerial is packed with dicks(I have never felt welcome in a Quizno's)

Potbelly: okay every so often, but, again, I don't require my sandwich to be toasted...ever eaten a non-toasted Potbelly?

JJ's...it is what it is and what it is holds heads above the other chains

I don't like the mephitic collegiate reek of JJ's nor their "rockstar" ideology, nor being greeted desultorily(because employees are required to)...but for a mediocre franchise Italian sub...you can do much worse...

I've been trying to find a link somewhere, but I swear I remember hearing a radio piece once talking about how the Jimmy John's owner/founder (they may be different, now?) openly stated in an interview that the secret to their success was intentionally sacrificing quality for speed. The most important thing by far was fastfastfast, and everything else was a distant second.

Take it with a grain of salt, since I haven't been able to find his quotes in print, but I believe it.

Dmnkly wrote:I've been trying to find a link somewhere, but I swear I remember hearing a radio piece once talking about how the Jimmy John's owner/founder (they may be different, now?) openly stated in an interview that the secret to their success was intentionally sacrificing quality for speed. The most important thing by far was fastfastfast, and everything else was a distant second.

Take it with a grain of salt, since I haven't been able to find his quotes in print, but I believe it.

I don't doubt it, but isn't that de rigueur for the competitors as well?

Like Mr. Gordon, I don't mind Jimmy John's bread and Vito. But if it's any consolation, the JJ's next to my building shut down after less than a year in business.

Christopher Gordon wrote:

Dmnkly wrote:I've been trying to find a link somewhere, but I swear I remember hearing a radio piece once talking about how the Jimmy John's owner/founder (they may be different, now?) openly stated in an interview that the secret to their success was intentionally sacrificing quality for speed. The most important thing by far was fastfastfast, and everything else was a distant second.

Take it with a grain of salt, since I haven't been able to find his quotes in print, but I believe it.

I don't doubt it, but isn't that de rigueur for the competitors as well?

There's a part of me -- most likely incredibly naive -- that wants to believe the folks who run these places with... um... less than exemplary food have at least some small part of them that genuinely wants to make a tasty sandwich, even if that desire is slave to prep time, focus groups, culinary ignorance, incompetent staff and The Shareholders.

As I remember this Jimmy John's piece, however, the founder/owner in question was quite adamant that he didn't care about flavor at all. This is why I've been trying to find the bit in print. I'm paraphrasing, but I remember it being along the lines of "I don't care what it tastes like as long as we make it faster than anybody else, because people will eat anything as long as they don't have to wait for it."

You can see why I found this particularly galling, even in those circles.

Dmnkly wrote:I've been trying to find a link somewhere, but I swear I remember hearing a radio piece once talking about how the Jimmy John's owner/founder (they may be different, now?) openly stated in an interview that the secret to their success was intentionally sacrificing quality for speed. The most important thing by far was fastfastfast, and everything else was a distant second.

Take it with a grain of salt, since I haven't been able to find his quotes in print, but I believe it.

I remember the same thing. He basically said that they polled their best (frequent) customers and it was determined that they don't think JJ's has good food, just really fast food. The head of the company seemed to tacitly agree. I can't find the source either, but I remember it clearly.

To me, JJ's bread makes Subway rolls taste downright artisinal. I'd honestly rather skip a meal than eat a JJ's sub. (Actually, the same goes for Subway)

I only ever went to Jimmy John's once, and never again. But it did give me an idea for a slogan for the Jerry's on Madison: "Sandwiches so slow you'll freak."

Dmnkly wrote:

Christopher Gordon wrote:

Dmnkly wrote:I've been trying to find a link somewhere, but I swear I remember hearing a radio piece once talking about how the Jimmy John's owner/founder (they may be different, now?) openly stated in an interview that the secret to their success was intentionally sacrificing quality for speed. The most important thing by far was fastfastfast, and everything else was a distant second.

Take it with a grain of salt, since I haven't been able to find his quotes in print, but I believe it.

I don't doubt it, but isn't that de rigueur for the competitors as well?

There's a part of me -- most likely incredibly naive -- that wants to believe the folks who run these places with... um... less than exemplary food have at least some small part of them that genuinely wants to make a tasty sandwich, even if that desire is slave to prep time, focus groups, culinary ignorance, incompetent staff and The Shareholders.

As I remember this Jimmy John's piece, however, the founder/owner in question was quite adamant that he didn't care about flavor at all. This is why I've been trying to find the bit in print. I'm paraphrasing, but I remember it being along the lines of "I don't care what it tastes like as long as we make it faster than anybody else, because people will eat anything as long as they don't have to wait for it."

You can see why I found this particularly galling, even in those circles.

I'm not trying to be a cheerleader, for JHVH1's sake

I've had some good sammies from JJ's and some crappy ones[including getting home with an all veg/no meat Vito one time(which they promptly remedied when I called...best customer service evahr...)]

there are other mentions of this JJ's pronouncement vis a vis efficacy, but I've never seen the proof(and I don't doubt it...I've just never seen it)...it almost seems spontaneously-generated a la that metaphysical petri dish internet...

interestingly(or not), the drive to the s/o's family farm takes us through Charleston, the birthplace of JJ's...do you think they's any better there?

I'm even more afeared to try the new-ish Thai restaurant along the strip.

eatchicago wrote:To me, JJ's bread makes Subway rolls taste downright artisinal. I'd honestly rather skip a meal than eat a JJ's sub. (Actually, the same goes for Subway)

Subway at least has a few ingredients that taste like food. (As VI put it, in the other Jimmy John's thread, "I mean at least Subway has a bunch of things to put on the sub to kill the taste.")

Jimmy John's is like eating cotton stuffed with cotton. I do not understand how they manage to make sandwiches so utterly devoid of flavor.

I remain mystified why anyone would eat at a Jimmy John's more than once.

While I have never had a Jimmy Johns,A Potbelly nor a Subway (I'm a make my own sub kinda gal) I have always wondered...is "Potbelly" the same Potbelly that started on Lincoln Avenue back in the 70's? They had some wonderful sandwiches...especially the muffeletta.

*(For those rolling their eyes...sorry, I don' t get around much in the sandwich world)

Thanks!

LAZ wrote:

eatchicago wrote:To me, JJ's bread makes Subway rolls taste downright artisinal. I'd honestly rather skip a meal than eat a JJ's sub. (Actually, the same goes for Subway)

Subway at least has a few ingredients that taste like food. (As VI put it, in the other Jimmy John's thread, "I mean at least Subway has a bunch of things to put on the sub to kill the taste.")

Jimmy John's is like eating cotton stuffed with cotton. I do not understand how they manage to make sandwiches so utterly devoid of flavor.

I remain mystified why anyone would eat at a Jimmy John's more than once.

Yes, the Chicago Subways have damn good giardinare, but what other ingredients taste like food?

Signed, Soylent Green

eatchicago wrote:I'd honestly rather skip a meal than eat a JJ's sub. (Actually, the same goes for Subway)

I think the best thing that can be said about JJ's is that their sandwiches taste clean ... which may just be another way of saying that they don't taste like much of anything at all. But you'd really rather go hungry for five hours than consume one of their sandwiches?

I dunno ... maybe my inability to despise JJ's stems from the memories of college the place evokes.

The biggest problem I have with JJ's is that mayo is a default ingredient on their Italian sub. That's just so wrong.

LAZ wrote:

eatchicago wrote:To me, JJ's bread makes Subway rolls taste downright artisinal. I'd honestly rather skip a meal than eat a JJ's sub. (Actually, the same goes for Subway)

Subway at least has a few ingredients that taste like food. (As VI put it, in the other Jimmy John's thread, "I mean at least Subway has a bunch of things to put on the sub to kill the taste.")

i agree LAZ, subway isn't gourmet but its good fast food with a lot of choices. im fine with a tuna sub and whatever i want on it. flavors mold together and they don't charge you extra for most things. perhaps it is that giardinare that does it?

jesteinf wrote:The biggest problem I have with JJ's is that mayo is a default ingredient on their Italian sub. That's just so wrong.

That's strange. The JJ's I've patronized never add mayo(to the Vito's). I have to ask for it in packets(egads). I've found that, especially for their vinegary subs, a bit of mayo makes all the difference. Then, I'm mayo-autistic, I don't trust anyone else to apply that particular condiment to my food. I have to do it myself. I think you happened upon a heretical JJ's; call in the Swiss Guard! I would.

Liz in Norwood Park wrote:While I have never had a Jimmy Johns,A Potbelly nor a Subway (I'm a make my own sub kinda gal) I have always wondered...is "Potbelly" the same Potbelly that started on Lincoln Avenue back in the 70's? They had some wonderful sandwiches...especially the muffeletta.

It is, indeed. Imagine my surprise to discover one in the Baltimore airport. They're now a nationwide chain. Though a muffaletta is no longer an option (didn't realize it was at one point). Potbelly is frequently savaged 'round these parts, but I'll take them over anything mentioned upthread in a heartbeat (except for Jerry's... I heart Jerry's, and would happily drive to and wait 20 minutes for a Jerry's sandwich over the immediate gratification of any of the others).

Incidentally, though I realize it's a matter of personal taste, JJ would be my last choice among those listed. My ex-officemates were big fans, and brought me a sandwich one day. Maybe I got a bad one, but it was one of the most awful sandwiches I've ever tasted.

Christopher Gordon wrote:

jesteinf wrote:The biggest problem I have with JJ's is that mayo is a default ingredient on their Italian sub. That's just so wrong.

That's strange. The JJ's I've patronized never add mayo(to the Vito's). I have to ask for it in packets(egads). I've found that, especially for their vinegary subs, a bit of mayo makes all the difference. Then, I'm mayo-autistic, I don't trust anyone else to apply that particular condiment to my food. I have to do it myself. I think you happened upon a heretical JJ's; call in the Swiss Guard! I would.

On looking at the JJ website, it looks like the Vito is served without mayo, but the Italian Night Club (which is the sandwich I was thinking of) does come with mayo. Weird.

Oh wait. Maybe the Muffaletta was available at Vieux Carre on Lincoln, next door to Potbelly.


Who knows???

It was the 70/80's...who can recall anything with clarity from that era?

eatchicago wrote:

Dmnkly wrote:I've been trying to find a link somewhere, but I swear I remember hearing a radio piece once talking about how the Jimmy John's owner/founder (they may be different, now?) openly stated in an interview that the secret to their success was intentionally sacrificing quality for speed. The most important thing by far was fastfastfast, and everything else was a distant second.

Take it with a grain of salt, since I haven't been able to find his quotes in print, but I believe it.

I remember the same thing. He basically said that they polled their best (frequent) customers and it was determined that they don't think JJ's has good food, just really fast food. The head of the company seemed to tacitly agree. I can't find the source either, but I remember it clearly.

To me, JJ's bread makes Subway rolls taste downright artisinal. I'd honestly rather skip a meal than eat a JJ's sub. (Actually, the same goes for Subway)

I remember hearing such an interview as well and I'm pretty sure it was on the Matt Dahl Show that used to be on WCKG before it changed formats/names--that is probably why you can't find reference to it anymore.

Frankly, I think JJ's subs are miles better than Subways (the smell of that place alone makes me want to vomit) and Mr. Sub's (my jaw hurts after eating any of their sandwiches). As far as the major national cold sub chains go, JJ's is clearly my favorite. For reference, my favorite sub in Chicago would be Bari's sandwiches. When it comes to local chains, it'd be Fontano's.

Why do I like JJ's? Well, I did delivery drive for them in college, so I suppose that may have something to do with it, but I like them for their simplicity and clean taste. The bread may be spongey, but it's more edible than anything I've ever had from Subway's and certainly Mr. Sub's. And it's freshly baked. (Subway's may be as well, but I couldn't tell.) The sandwiches are simply constructed, and I enjoy the straightforward combination of flavors. I like the fact that I don't have a gazillion random toppings to choose from.Their Vito sub, like other posters have mentioned, is my favorite of theirs as well. Some cheap Italian cold cuts, onion, cheese, with a shake of Italian herbs and drizzling of olive oil and vinegar (plus optional hot peppers which I always opt for). How can you go wrong? I simply cannot fathom how people prefer Subway's to JJ's, but, hey, different strokes and all.

Binko wrote:I simply cannot fathom how people prefer Subway's to JJ's, but, hey, different strokes and all.

In thinking about it further, it's possible I had tuna salad, which may go a long way towards explaining things.

I 100% agree with the people who think JJ's is miles ahead of Subway...is JJ's great? no.

First off let me start by saying I grew up next door to Jimmy John (he has since moved back to Champagne but we still chat now and then) The reason you see JJ's popping up everywhere is because Jimmy John is a smart business guy. Example...

1)Go to any average sized college campus and you will see a JJ's in a central location where business is almost a guarantee...college kids will eat anything cheap and JJ's is just that but its not all bad and definitely better than subway. Some college kids dont have time between classes, partying and studying to be waiting for food and most dont demand a sandwich like Bari's Italian, they want food and they want it now.

2) The fact that they will deliver ONE sub to you in "freaky fast" time. This is a huge part of the biz at all locations. How many times do you not order food b/c of a minimum charge and or the fact there is just one of you eating? This is great for all people...college kids, lazy folk, people at work that cant leave, someone that just wants a sandwich and doesnt want to go buy all the ingredients or leave their house etc...

3) Its weird but almost anywhere you see a potbelly, theres a JJ's nearby, not sure why this is but maybe its the fact that some people like their Sammy's cold and not everyone is partial to Potbelly's (I am having grown up in LP and frequented the Lincoln ave location since grade school) I dont know but JJ's sandwiches seem more like "east coast" subs than potbelly's. A perfect example of this is Madison, WI...where in a block and a half radius on State St. you can find a JJ's, Potbelly and Subway and they all do well, theres even a wannabe JJ's called Big Mike's thats right around all three as well and they do good too.

4) If subway can do so well why not JJ's? I mean subway is complete garbage, ill admit I used to love their mystery meat cheesesteak back in the day but they even changed that trying to get all fancy and its really bad now in a bad way, not good in a bad way if that makes sense, you know like WC.

Out of the JJs, Subway, Potbelly trio, ill take potbelly. That being said I actually ate at JJ's quite frequently in Madison and it was usually on those ice cold winter days when they would bring me a vito right to my doorstep for $.35, you cant beat that and thats why they survive. Also im pretty sure that all the locations offer giardinara, not for sure, but man anytime I have a visitor in Chicago, they always have to bring back a few bottles of giardinara, people love that stuff.

It's easily been 6+ years since I last had JJ or Subway. I never understood the draw of Subway and JJ even when I was a poor college student. I dreaded it whenever I came down to Sunday dinner in the sorority house to see that dinner was ordered from JJ. Just walking by JJ's the mere smell of their bread makes me want to gag.

My matriculation predates the dominance of JJ's, so I don't have any nostalgia for it...I had friends who worked at the college Subway tho' and one look at the gigantor bags o' tuna salad was enough for me to question any "sandwich artistry" involved.

Da Beef wrote:Out of the JJs, Subway, Potbelly trio, ill take potbelly.

Same here.

Pucca wrote: Just walking by JJ's the mere smell of their bread makes me want to gag.

Same with me and Subway, as mentioned above. I actually liked the smell of JJ's. There were only two fast food places I would not eat as a college student: Taco Bell and Domino's. Neither JJ nor even Subway is the culinary nadir that those two places are.

jimmy johns is one of those places i too never understood the need for ANY hype over... any time i had ever been i left thinking "well that was boring" ... then one recently opened near my work in the AON center building... i got the italian but added hot peppers (don't get me started on the little bit where they just throw in extra charges for this and that despite it not being marked as such on the menu)....

the italian sandwich alone is not good. it's meet and mayo basically.. but add the hot peppers and it's... very edible... well, sort of. after having it a second and third time i got to realizing that the peppers are so hot you can't taste anything else and they could put bologna on the bread and you wouldn't taste it... then i also realized that every time i have their hot peppers, about 12 hours later i can reliably get violently ill... which i can't think of any other food product that does that.

i wrote a review of this location on some other site.... and the owner of another JJ franchise PMed me basically saying that the owner of this particular location is an idiot.. so maybe not all JJ's are created equally

dddane wrote:jimmy johns is one of those places i too never understood the need for ANY hype over...

Is there actually hype over this place?

(don't get me started on the little bit where they just throw in extra charges for this and that despite it not being marked as such on the menu)....

Could be your franchise, but it should be under the "Side Items" part of the menu.

after having it a second and third time i got to realizing that the peppers are so hot you can't taste anything

They're just banana peppers. (edit: Or were they cherry peppers? I can't remember, it's been awhile.)They're not that hot. At least not hotter than anything you'd get at Subway or Quizno's.

okay...maybe last reply...

Upcharges!

At my former Gold Coast-esque JJ's they'd routinely ask ..."hot peppers?"

And, the first time it happened, I in my naivete said, "why sure" only to get upcharged 40 cents...

It's the principle of the thing(not the money)...they ask as if they're querying, "lettuce? tomato?"

and, insult upon injury...the one time I succumbed, the peppers(displayed in giant plastic jars around the eaves), the peppers were flaccid, bitter, mild inconsequential vegetal glit

not hot at all

yep, all JJ's are not created equally, that goes for the employees(there was one loop location that screwed the s/o hardcore and apparently didn't give a toss)...

the managerial staff, the product, and the vibe differ radically store to store

Binko wrote:There were only two fast food places I would not eat as a college student: Taco Bell and Domino's. Neither JJ nor even Subway is the culinary nadir that those two places are.

I was going to say something similar along the lines of...if Taco Bell, Domino's, Arby's and Hardee's can make it, JJ's can too.

dddane wrote:i wrote a review of this location on some other site.... and the owner of another JJ franchise PMed me basically saying that the owner of this particular location is an idiot.. so maybe not all JJ's are created equally

I was also going to point out the fact that JJ's are franchised so they can vary by location. As far as the hot peppers, ya thats one of the reasons I like the Vito and it does say they charge $.35 on the menu, the one in Madison carries giardinara. I went to school in Madison where the dining scene is actually really good (yes I ate out all the time and rarely visited any chains type spots, so dont ask) and still managed to eat JJ's a few times a year. Now imagine the towns/suburbs that have JJ's, Subway and maybe a Quizno's...JJ's all of a sudden aint all that bad.

Note: the Italian and Vito are different, I have never had the Italian but the Vito doesnt have mayo on it.