Penn Station East Coast Subs Opens New Location in Charlotte Metro

“We’re excited to bring Penn Station to this part of Gastonia,” said Fairbanks. “This neighborhood has great traffic and a strong residential base. We saw an opportunity to serve a growing community with fresh, high-quality food and fast, friendly service.”

Strategically placed in South Gastonia, the new restaurant is located in a densely populated residential area just north of Old Neal Hawkins Road. The site is a former bank building that features a to-go order window. Customers can either place an order online or through Penn’s Station’s app and drive through to pick it up without leaving their vehicle.

“Eric’s ability to identify strategic locations and deliver a great guest experience has been key to his success—and to ours,” said Lance Vaught, President of Penn Station East Coast Subs. “We’re thrilled to see him open his eighth location and look forward to supporting his continued growth.”

Penn Station is all about growth in 2025. The executive team has launched an aggressive expansion plan with the intent of opening its 500th location within the next five years.

“This is our 40th year in business and we are excited to help entrepreneurs live out the dream of owning a restaurant,” says Don Champion, Senior Vice President of Franchise Development and Sales. “We are even offering an exclusive incentive for new franchise owners: six months royalty-free and 50% off the franchise fee. This is a rare opportunity to join a legacy brand known for its high-quality food, award-winning training, and operational excellence.”

Founded in 1985 by Jeff Osterfeld, Penn Station East Coast Subs is celebrating its 40th year serving award-winning grilled hot and classic cold subs, fresh-cut fries, and freshly squeezed lemonade. Privately held and headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, the brand is known as a community staple in states including Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania while rapidly expanding into North Carolina, South Carolina, and Michigan. With more than 320 locations across the country, Penn Station is considered among the nation’s fastest growing franchise systems.

With many attractive development territories available for multi-unit growth, there has never been a better time to become a Penn Station franchisee.