A Subway franchisee in Huntington Beach, Calif., has redesigned his latest store with the addition of sofas, a fireplace and flat screen TVs to entice customers to relax and eat in, according to a story on the O.C. Register's Fast Food Maven blog. Other franchisees building new stores in Orange and Los Angeles counties will follow suit.
According to Fast Food Maven:
"The Subway concept is quick. Pick up your sandwich and get out," said Alex Chandok, who operates three Subways in Orange County (and says 90 percent of Subway diners "buy and run" at his restaurants.) "I want to give a message for people that it is a family place where you can relax and eat anytime."
On the East Coast, Subway Development Corp. out of Washington, D.C., has been testing a café concept for almost a year. The Subway Café features club chairs instead of plastic booths, and a fast casual-like menu with the traditional Subway line plus paninis, Seattle's Best Coffee, specialty salads, gourmet sandwich specials and Thomas' Bagels and English Muffins anchoring its breakfast sandwiches.
