Wow. Just "wow." We used to be "regulars" at this store, eating there at least once per week pretty much since they opened. The food was always great, the service was always incredible, the store always clean, and they gave a veteran's discount (which I didn't know about until it came up with conversation with one of the workers). We hadn't been back in for a while because of the massive turnover of people working there and there was a very different air about the place. Nobody seemed happy to be there anymore. On our previous visit, I asked to speak with the manager because I had witnessed what might have been a health violation. I wasn't asking for anything, and I pulled him aside as not to make a 'scene'...I was just pointing something out that might be an issue. I was very surprised when he got very defensive and became very rude with me. Needless to say, since then, I haven't exactly rushed back to that store. Anyhow, we went back today. The store had a COMPLETELY different 'feel' to it. Yes, the food is still pretty much the same (I mean it's a pretty formulaic Sub shop, right?), but the whole place seemed as if nobody cared about the store. The person slicing the meat looked as if she would rather be anywhere else (the girl next to her kept pushing things back on the rolls when the person making the sub would 'miss' and food was just 'flopping' half on the roll/half off). Although there were only a few customers in there when we arrived (and PLENTY of people behind the counter!), EVERY table was filthy so we basically had to clean our own table to sit. But the store itself seems different; there was a 'dingy' feel to it, mostly I believe due to the new "cooler" (soda bottle refrigerator) blocking one of the front windows. The upholstery in the booths is all worn and cracked (again, no pride in ownership at that store), and the staff was anything BUT courteous. When I got to the cashier, I let them know that I am a veteran and the cashier just looked at me and said, "We don't do that anymore." Wow. OK. At one point during our meal, there was some sort of ruckus in the back. We weren't sure if people were fighting or joking, but it was more than annoying. And loud. And did I mention ANNOYING???
So, after years of going there pretty much every Sunday and enjoying the experience, I don't expect we will be going back anytime soon. There are just too many places to go in that area to go for food in a lot more comfortable environment. It seems as if this Jersey Mike's doesn't understand exactly how much competition there is in that immediate area for the consumer's dollar. read more