| rev:text
| - I've been to the original east-coast Mike's. As expected this franchise conglomerate is in no way similar to the original eastern states subs. For all their hype they are what we all know they are ... a fast food chain not unlike McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy's and the others. What COULD save them is if they served a product that's a cut above and superior service (after all they only run on 2 -3 staff members per shift, unlike some chains that require 20 - 30).
But sadly, no. Whereas, with such a small staff I would expect to repeatedly see the same guys (oh, yeah, I have never seen a girl work at Jersey Mike's) each time I visit, which is pretty often, nope, it is new guys each and every time. Is it that bad of a place to work? (I finally figured out that NO ONE could work for the store manager for more than one shift).
This is just processed cold cuts, bread and some cheap condiments, what could make a Jersey Mike's sandwich so ridiculously expensive? They have low overhead, a tiny staff and minimal ingredients, why do they charge as much as they do?
There is a certain logic that says if you offer an awesome product and charge through the snout, you will make a lot of money. That's basic capitalism. Nice theory, but I have NEVER been to this Jersey Mike's location when I had more than 2 people in front of me and more than 5 people total in the entire restaurant. This is good business sense to have an empty restaurant?
I looked at my experience recently. The place was nearly deserted. When I walked in the first counter person tried to force me to choose a sandwich I had no desire to buy. I knew what I wanted before I walked in. What could have / should have been a friendly, relaxed opportunity to give some good customer service came across more as a don't care attitude. When I declined to order what he wanted he got pretty grouchy and slammed his way into the kitchen.
The sandwich was adequate. Period. Too little ingredients, one end way too soaked with oil & vinegar, and worth about $1.99 at Subway. But holy cow, it was SEVEN BUCKS!!!!! Just for the sandwich!!!!
Since I first wrote this review I accidentally discovered a very new, much smaller chain called Which Wich. Wow, what a difference. The whole experience is better, and the staff seems like they really like their jobs and care about their customers. But what really counts is the food. They run circles around every other sub place in the incredible variety of choices they offer, and their "regular" sub is substantially larger and meatier than Mike's, fresher, and a lower price. And, oh yeah, they let me customize my sandwich MY way, not the way some guy named Mike says I should.
[EDIT 1) Sorry folks to go on about this. I just dropped my 2-star rating to 1-star. I would have gone 0-star if I could. I recently went back (against my better judgement) because Mike's corporate was showing support for the east coast tragedies. MISTAKE! The store manager (franchise owner?) was so rude I think some of his staff quit on the spot. I can clearly see why no women work for him. The few customers got up and almost ran out of the store. Swore I would never come back.
[EDIT 2] I am such a wimp. I did come back recently because of some freebie coupons. Once again, the store was empty (at prime eating time). Once again all new faces and no female workers. Once again the unbelieveably rude manager was hitting on some (um, VERY young) chicks. The sandwich maker was an angry disinterested mess ... never asked me what I wanted in or on the sandwich, just robotically slapped some stuff on a bun. Store manager in pissy mood (again). This franchisee just doesn't give a sh*t and NO WAY deserves to be in business (and the zero lack of customers proves the point). AVOID LIKE A CASE OF REALLY BAD STD!!
[EDIT 3] I haven't been back to a Jersey Mike's in a long time. Went to one because I got a freebie coupon and WOW ... the price for a regular sandwich (sandwich only) is $7.50 and a large is $12.45. Are they freakin' out of their minds!?!?!? Or I could get the same large size at Subway for $5.00. They didn't know they were making a freebie until it got to the cashier so I can assume that the tiny amount of meat I got was "Mike's way" of charging more and serving less. The service was just as bad but, woohoo, they finally hired a female.
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