Penn Stations’ Customers Wanted Philly Cheesesteaks—And Oh, They Got Philly Cheesesteaks

In the last 35 years, Penn Station has expanded to over 310 restaurants, providing an East Coast-inspired sandwich experience to sub lovers across the midwest. To further tap into its sandwich-craving customer base, Penn Station recently expanded its menu from fresh-cut fries and fresh-grilled sandwiches to cold sandwiches, salads and wraps, too.

“Consumers like variety in their menu options, so it was the perfect chance to add a new twist to our menu, while also staying true to our roots,” said Craig Dunaway, President of Penn Station.

As a testament to its commitment to delivering on flavor and innovation, Penn Station recently held a promotion where it encouraged customers to vote for the sandwich that they wanted to be featured as October’s “Monthly Special”****.

Menu expansion

After 17,000 votes, the Philadelphia Cheesesteak was the lucky, but not surprisingly, overall winner. The monthly special for October featured the USDA choice steak-and-provolone cheese-filled sandwich, fresh-cut fries and a regular fresh-squeezed lemonade for a special price.

Encouraging customers to participate in activities like this is just one way Penn Station enables them to steer the ship. “Involving and engaging our customers in something like this allows us to let them know that we care about what they want,” said Dunaway. “It’s a fun way to connect our brand to our customers, all through our love of sandwiches.”

Another way Penn Station keeps its customers engaged is through the brand’s Random Acts Of Kindness Program. The sub shop encourages students to perform random acts of kindness, demonstrating courtesy and respect during the school day. When administrators and/or teachers witness an act, students are rewarded with a certificate to a local Penn Station restaurant.

Franchise opportunities

Having an engaged and loyal customer base creates an exciting opportunity for potential franchisees. “People know the Penn Station name––they already love our sandwiches or have at least heard of what we’re all about,” said Dunaway. “There’s already a market in place, so that mixed with our customer engagement opportunities make an appealing case to franchisees.”

For new franchisees, Penn Station provides a comprehensive support system including site selection, design and construction, IT, operations and training, marketing and financial reporting. “We strongly believe one of our strengths is the initial and ongoing support we provide to the franchisees in our system,” noted Greg Goddard, Director of Development and Franchising at Penn Station. “It’s through these systems, introducing newer franchisees to best practices and additional procedures developed by our experienced operators, that allows franchisees to maximize their return on investment and utilize the system and the tools to their fullest advantage.”

The East Coast sub shop brand currently has 83 franchisees and is always looking for new signees. With an offering as delicious as gooey Philly cheesesteaks and franchisee support as robust as the sandwiches, now couldn’t be a better time to invest in Penn Station.