Sandwich store to expand in Utah, create 400+ jobs
Kevin O'Brien, of Murray, Nikelle Archibald, of Orem, and Mackenzie Mayo, 17, all laugh while working at Which Wich in Lehi on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2014.
Mackenzie Mayo, 17, of Pleasant Grove, and Nikelle Archibald, of Orem, make a sandwich while working at Which Wich in Lehi on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2014. IAN MAULE, Daily Herald
Nikelle Archibald, of Orem, and Mackenzie Mayo, 17, of Pleasant Grove, take a costumers order while working at Which Wich in Lehi on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2014. IAN MAULE, Daily Herald
Mackenzie Mayo, 17, of Pleasant Grove, and Nikelle Archibald, of Orem, make a sandwich while working at Which Wich in Lehi on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2014. IAN MAULE, Daily Herald
A sandwich shop is expanding in Utah and bringing a lot of jobs.
Which Wich Superior Sandwiches has plans to open 15 to 20 stores in Utah County and Salt Lake within the next three to five years, said the company’s vice president, Jeff Vickers. The Dallas-based company currently has three locations in the Beehive State, in Fort Union, Lehi and Orem.
“Utah as a whole is family-oriented, and we as a brand are all about community,” Vickers said. “We have connected with these families and made an environment that is extremely friendly.”
The expansion will create more than 400 jobs in Utah and Salt Lake counties.
A location in West Valley will open in the spring, and the company is looking for real estate in Provo and near Thanksgiving Point. The company is also hoping to expand into North Orem and American Fork.
Vickers said customization is one of Which Wich’s token characteristics, with 50 different types of sandwiches and 60 topping choices. Plus, the store puts a twist on ordering: customers pick up a paper bag and choose the type of sandwich, veggies, condiment spreads and cheese by writing on the bag. “Wich” makers then make the sandwich to order and put it in the bag.
With the expansion, the company is looking for potential franchise owners, Vickers said, who “have strong leadership skills, business experience and community involvement.”
Robert Fowler opened two Which Wich locations in Grand Junction, Colorado, and recently open took ownership of a Which Wich in Lehi with co-owner Kevin O’Brien.
“The people and reception that we get in Utah is amazing,” he said, although the brand does not have much familiarity in the state.
“When people do discover Which Wich’s uniqueness, the vibe and positive energy, they’re blown away,” Fowler said.
Even as the franchise owner, Fowler, travels between Lehi and Colorado to manage the franchise he owners. He said the job is very hands-on.
“We’re in our stores every day,” he said. “Even if an owner has multiple locations, they’re usually involved in all the stores … It’s vital for me to want to be involved, working with high school and college kids that are generally the employees. We engage with our guests.”
The franchise currently has 310 locations nationwide and in Panama, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates, plus more than 250 stores in the planning and construction phase.
And although Which Wich is expanding throughout the country, Utah locations will have a local twist as the only Which Wich locations in the nation to offer fry sauce as one of the sandwich spreads. “Yes we’re a big company, but we’re really about serving the local market.”
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