Vincent and Joey DeMaioribus Sign on to Bring First Cheba Huts to Texas

When Vincent DeMaioribus was a young man, he always wanted to retire early and open his own bar. So when his son, Joey, told him that he was interested in bringing the “toasted” sub franchise Cheba Hut to Austin—full bar included—Vincent was completely on board.

The DeMaioribus’s made it official in early 2019 by signing on for three new Cheba Hut locations in Austin, the first in the state overall. The father and son franchisee duo aim to open the doors of their premiere restaurant in 2020.

Austin’s vivacious live music and art scenes, eclectic residents and relaxed ethos create the perfect market for the cannabis-themed Cheba Hut. The brand’s toasted sandwiches, cold drinks and munchable snacks will blend in seamlessly. Simply put, said Joey, “The whole vibe of the city is a match.”

With eccentricity and fun permeating every corner, the city famously lives up to its “Keep Austin Weird” slogan—while still offering a little something for everyone.

Joey noted that Cheba Hut has proven successful near college campuses and the populations of young adults who come along with them, and Austin hosts The University of Texas at Austin and several other institutions of higher education. The city is also an up-and-coming technology hub, with giants like Google and Apple setting up campuses and attracting a new crop of residents in recent years.

Vincent said that the DeMaioribus’s Cheba Hut locations will be a local hot spot with a small-town feel more than a convenient afterthought. “The food is great, so it would do well anywhere, but particularly in Austin, it will be a destination for folks,” said Vincent. “You won’t go just because it’s around the corner. You’ll go there because you’re meeting up with friends , and you want to start your night off right with a drink or two and an amazing dinner.”

Joey came across Cheba Hut while in the midst of a successful career in the food industry. After a stint at Arizona State University, he began working for a sub sandwich shop called Jersey Mike’s. “I decided quickly that it was something I was interested in making a career out of,” said Joey.

Within two years, he had worked his way up to general manager. After gaining experience overseeing operations of a few different Jersey Mike’s stores, he decided it was time to see how he’d fare out on his own.

Joey began exploring submarine sandwich franchises, including Jersey Mike’s, which was a familiar concept to his family. With over 1,500 locations, Jersey Mike’s had a proven business model, but some franchisees may feel like a small fish in a big pond with such a large company.

That’s when Joey discovered Cheba Hut. He liked that it was a newer brand, which provided a lot of room to grow with the company and make his mark with his own business.

The younger DeMaioribus approached Vincent with his idea. “I told my dad that we could take my college money and put it into owning a franchise instead,” said Joey, who was already thinking that Austin would be the perfect market for their “joint” venture. Vincent, of course, just had to hear the word “bar.”

“Vince and Joey are a great fit for Cheba Hut,” said Seth Larsen, Cheba Hut Chief Relationship Officer. “Joey was a manager in the fast-casual sandwich industry, which is better experience than money can buy. Vince has had success building and leading teams which, in our opinion, is the best quality any prospect can have. They ask all the right questions. When we are looking at franchise partners, we ask ourselves if they would be a good fit at our annual meetings and if they’d add something special to the group dynamic. The answer for Vince and Joey is an unequivocal yes.”

The Demaioribuses are looking forward to starting this new adventure together and spreading the good vibes in Texas for the first time.

“Austin is a really unique place, and this is a unique concept,” said Vincent.

Emily Clouse is a staff writer for 1851 Franchise. Her work has been featured with publications such as The Onion, Reductress, and Chicago Magazine. She graduated from The Ohio State University before running away to join the Peace Corps. In her free time, she enjoys drawing and walking to Jewel-Osco.