The 28-seat sandwich shop will feature 14 seats of semi-enclosed dining where there’s now an alcove, at center above. Below, a concept drawing of a Subway Café, though not in the layout planned for Red Bank. (Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank’s aversion to national fast-food outlets is about to get a new test, this time by the 35,473-store Subway chain.
A franchiser won approval from the borough planning board Monday night to build a 28-seat Subway at 60 Broad Street, in a long-vacant space between the Red Bank Nail Salon and Hip & Humble Home furnishings.
But in a town where McDonald’s, Cold Stone ice cream and others have failed, Subway plans to make it by changing up its usual approach.
Ojas Patel, who will build and own the shop, says this one will be a “café” version of Subway, one that’s now found only in three other locations nationwide: at the Pentagon, the Smithsonian museum and the University of Maryland.
Patel, who owns Subway shops in Middlesex Borough, Monroe Township and Princeton Junction, described the café in terms of decor: exposed stone and brick, stucco, muted earth tones – details that will make it “not monolithic, not just another Subway,” said attorney Armen Macomber. The menu will be the same as at other stores in the chain.
It wall also feature an architectural element not seen elsewhere in town. What’s now an entry alcove with curving display windows and a center doorway will be torn out, with he door repositioned to the right. To the left will be a semi-enclosed recess, set off from the street by a low fence, with tables and seating for up to 14 in warm weather. During the winter, the tables and chairs will be removed, though a permanent bench will remain.
Some members of the board hesitated over the bench, recalling days when homeless people and partiers out on a bender used to sleep in store entryways. But they were assured by Patel that the space would be monitored overnight by security cameras.
The main sticking point for the board was parking: the shop has no spaces out front, owing to a yellow curb, and just a few spots in a rear lot that’s not accessible to customers. Still, the board unanimously granted a parking variance, provided that building owner Michael Morgan create a dedicated handicapped-user’s spot when he rebuilds the lot, an obligation he’s required to meet by next July 15.
The board also approved a request for a food use in the space, which had most recently been an eyewear store.
Patel tells redbankgreen he expects to open in the spring.
Here’s the issue: “The menu will be the same as at other stores in the chain.” High fructose corn syrup in your bread, anyone? http://www.dietsinreview.com/diet_column/06/subway-bread-has-more-high-fructose-corn-syrup-than-whole-grains/
Sorry but ” … an architectural element not seen elsewhere in town” isn’t enough, it’s still a Subway.
I’d rather spend my cash at Elsie’s and get a much better sandwich.
There used to be a Subway on the same side of Broad Street in the early 1990s.
yuck not happy at all Elsies rules even though i am vegan they always take that into consideration and make me a great sub I know subway cannot provide that service they dont even have anything vegan at all.Lots of garbage in the bread they use lets support local people that would be ELSIES
So we really need a chain sub shop? We have numerous great cold and hot sub places in town now. Remember Quiznos a little further south not too long ago?
I was hoping that whoever would go in to the shop would incorporate the wonderful curved glass display windows into their design. Oh well….
Lot of hatin’. I’m glad to see a legit business filling an empty storefront. More power to them.
I don’t see any problems with Subway opening up there, I think it will be nice, particularly since they’re changing up the look specifically for Red Bank. Don’t hate!
If hating means knowing for a fact that Subway makes a subpar sandwich compared Elsie’s, call me a hater. I really don’t care what it looks like, it’s a place to get a sandwich.
You can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig. Last time I ate at Subway, the roast beef was gray.
Not sure what the current definition of hate is but I don’t see any “hatin’” in the comments…..just folks expressing what they think about Subway fare.
@Robert – I asked the folks @ Elsies about whole wheat last week and they said the demand just isn’t there – when they’ve tested it in the past, they went stale and had to be tossed. Maybe if they promoted them?
My husband and I are far from gourmet diners and we’ll eat just about anywhere when we’re hungry. One place we won’t set foot in is Subway. Tried it a few times and hated it and decided to never go back. So yeah, call me a hater.
i think its a great idea to have a subway in the area. its offers a quick and healthy meal option and its afforable
I read that for some strange reason Subway is very popular among Boston Red Sox fans.
Don’t know why, maybe they’re a big Red Sox sponsor.
Too bad for Subway.
I’d be surprised, if any Red Bankers would root for the Red Sox.
But if they did, apparently you’d find them eating in Subway all the time, probably wearing their sad Red Sox caps.
Mr D……not sure your statement has any factual basis. We do enjoy Popeye’s chicken.
As for Bosox fans in RB…..there are many RB closet Sox fans who don’t want to wear Boston stuff in fear of being bullied by some Evil Empire fan.
I wear my sad Red Sox cap with pride, however have never stepped foot in a Subway.
I think the fact that there was a Subway on Broad street in the 80′s & early 90′s which failed shows how resilient Elsie’s can be – “Elsie’s since 1959″
I’m a little bummed to see those great curved glass windows going away on the spot Subway moving into.
For a cheap sandwich on the go, on Broad check out the Bahn Mi at Pho Le. $5.00-%6.00 each and they are yummy, huge and filling.
Bob,
I have to admire your standing up for your team.
I don’t think Sox fans have anything to fear from the peace loving Yankee fans of RB who only react to the most extreme Boston provocation.
I have to admit I’ve eaten at Subway, they’re not bad, but of course they’re not even in the same league as Elsie’s.