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Penn Station Franchise Opportunity

Own a Penn Station Franchise

Franchising with Penn Station East Coast Subs offers a unique opportunity to join a fast-growing brand with a loyal customer base and high-quality products. Known for the freshest ingredients and grilled-to-order sandwiches, Penn Station delivers a proven business model focused on franchisee ROI. Franchise owners benefit from extensive support in operations, marketing, and training, guiding you from day one. With a focus on operational excellence and guest satisfaction, Penn Station provides a rewarding path to owning a thriving business in the fast-casual restaurant industry. Invest in a franchise where quality and strong ROI drive growth and strong franchisee satisfaction.
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Download the Penn Station Franchisee Satisfaction Report

Only the brands that exceed FBR’s franchisee satisfaction benchmark are displayed on our website. Here’s how Penn Station franchise owners rated their franchise. 

Highlights include:

  • 98% of franchisees agree that they enjoy being a part of this organization
  • 98% of franchisees agree that they enjoy operating their business
  • 90% of franchisees agree that they would recommend this franchise to others

 

out of 100
Penn Station
Franchise Owner Satisfaction Report
Review completed: April 2024
0-49 Below average
50-69 Average
70-100 Best
  • Poor
  • Average
  • Good
  • Very Good
  • Excellent
  • Training & Support
  • Core Values
  • Franchise System
  • Franchise Community
  • Leadership
  • Self-Evaluation

Not all franchise systems share their results publicly. Penn Station does. Download the detailed Penn Station Franchisee Satisfaction Report for free.

Penn Station Awards from Franchise Business Review

2024 Top Food
2024 Most Profitable
2024 Top Recession Proof
2024 Top Womens
2024 FBR Top
2024 Best Culture
2023 Rock Star
2023 Most Profitable
2023 Top Food
2023 Best Culture
2023 Recession Proof
2023 Top Franchise
FBR Hall of Fame
2022 Most Profitable
2022 Top Food
2022 Rock Star
2022 Top Recession-Proof
2022 Top 200
2021 Most Profitable
2021 Best Culture
2021 Multi-Unit
2021 Top Food
2020 Top Food
2020 FBR Top
2019 FBR Top

Penn Station Franchise Information

Business Model

Penn Station East Coast Subs operates as a fast-casual restaurant chain centered around high-quality, grilled and cold submarine sandwiches. The brand differentiates itself by focusing on fresh, made-to-order food, catering to customers who want a fast yet premium dining experience.
Menu Specialization
Penn Station’s menu focuses primarily on 18 varieties of hot and cold subs, fresh cut fries, hand-squeezed lemonade, and fresh-baked chocolate chunk cookies. Signature items, such as the Philly Cheesesteak and the Italian highlight their commitment to East Coast flavors. We also feature a variety of wraps and salads. This limited but curated menu allows Penn Station to deliver consistency and maintain a high-quality, craveable menu.
Freshness and Quality Ingredients
The brand emphasizes using fresh, high-quality ingredients, with bread baked in-house, fries cut fresh daily, and lemonade made from fresh lemons. This approach appeals to modern consumers who increasingly seek higher-quality, fresher fast-food options.
Open Kitchen Concept
Penn Station employs an open kitchen layout, allowing customers to watch their food being prepared. This transparency builds trust and reinforces the brand’s focus on freshness, as customers can see ingredients and observe the preparation process.
Franchise Model
The company operates through a franchise model, which has fueled expansion across the Midwest. Franchisees receive support in training, marketing, and operations, ensuring consistency across locations. This model allows for a scalable business for franchise owners.
Customer Experience and Speed of Service
Penn Station combines elements of fast-casual and quick-service dining, aiming to deliver high-quality food with minimal wait times. This model appeals to customers who value both the quality of their food and the speed of service, making Penn Station a popular choice for lunch and dinner.
Marketing and Community Engagement
The brand invests in marketing to build brand recognition and often engages with local communities. Many locations also support local initiatives, fostering a sense of community loyalty.
By focusing on freshness, quality ingredients, an engaging customer experience, and a scalable franchise model, Penn Station has carved out a distinctive position in the competitive fast-casual dining segment.

Key Benefits

Owning a Penn Station East Coast Subs franchise offers numerous advantages for franchisees:

  1. Established Brand Recognition
    Franchisees benefit from Penn Station’s established reputation and loyal customer base, giving them a head start with brand recognition in the market.
  2. Proven Business Model
    Celebrating our 40th anniversary in 2025, Penn Station provides a time-tested business model, allowing franchisees to operate within a framework that has demonstrated strong ROI and growth.
  3. Quality Product Offerings
    The brand’s commitment to fresh, high-quality, nationally recognized name brand ingredients and a focused menu of popular items such as subs, fresh-cut fries, and fresh-squeezed lemonade makes it attractive to customers and helps drive sales.
  4. Training and Operational Support
    Franchisees receive comprehensive training and operational support, which includes ongoing evaluations of operational standards, food preparation, customer service, and marketing strategies.
  5. Marketing and Promotional Support
    Penn Station offers marketing assistance and national advertising campaigns, which help build local visibility. Franchisees can leverage promotions within their LSM to attract and retain customers.
  6. Community Engagement
    In addition to being a proud contributor to Downs syndrome, the brand encourages local involvement, allowing franchisees to build strong relationships within their communities, which helps foster customer loyalty and repeat business.
  7. Open Kitchen Concept Appeal
    The open-kitchen design enhances customer trust and adds to the dining experience, a unique feature that can help differentiate a Penn Station location from other quick-service restaurants.
  8. Access to a Growing Segment
    As part of the fast-casual segment, Penn Station caters to a growing demand for fresh, quality food served quickly, positioning franchisees in a strong market space.
  9. Scalability and Expansion Opportunities
    Franchisees have the potential for scalability, with the option to own multiple locations over time, allowing for growth within the franchise network.

These benefits make Penn Station East Coast Subs an appealing option for franchisees seeking a stable, supportive investment with high profit potential in the foodservice industry.

Marketing Support

Penn Station East Coast Subs provides a comprehensive suite of marketing support programs designed to help franchisees attract and retain customers. These programs include:

  1. National Advertising Campaigns
    Penn Station coordinates national advertising efforts, which build overall brand awareness and drive traffic to local franchises. These campaigns utilize a mix of digital, print, and media placements to ensure consistent visibility across markets.
  2. Local Store Marketing Support
    The brand offers guidance and tools for franchisees to implement localized marketing initiatives. This includes materials and strategies for community engagement, local sponsorships, and partnerships to strengthen connections with the surrounding community.
  3. Monthly Promotions and Limited Time Offers
    Penn Station and its franchisees offer monthly promotions, which help generate excitement and increase customer visits. Franchisees benefit from these initiatives, as they can leverage promotions to draw in both new and returning customers. The brand also creates limited time offers to attract new customers and to provide a variety of new products for existing customers alike.
  4. Digital Marketing Resources
    Franchisees receive access to digital marketing tools and resources, including social media strategies and email marketing templates. These resources help franchisees reach customers effectively online and engage with a broader audience.
  5. Point-of-Sale Marketing Materials
    Penn Station provides point-of-sale materials, such as posters, flyers, and in-store signage, to promote specials, seasonal items, LTO’s, and core menu items, all designed to enhances the overall customer experience.
  6. Website and Digital Presence/Tech Stack
    Franchisees benefit from the company’s centralized website and tech stack, which offer online ordering and location services. These digital platforms make it easy for customers to find, order from, and engage with local stores and create unique guest experiences encouraging customer retention and frequency of visit.
  7. New Store Launch Support
    For new franchise locations, Penn Station offers dedicated support for grand openings, which may include grand opening events, targeted local advertising, and media outreach to maximize initial visibility and customer engagement.Through these marketing support programs, Penn Station East Coast Subs helps franchisees maintain a strong market presence and build brand loyalty, creating opportunities for sustained business growth.
Training Programs

Penn Station provides comprehensive, hands-on operational training prior to opening your restaurant. Our award-winning training is for four weeks in Cincinnati, OH. The designated Managing Owner (the person who will oversee day-to-day operations) is required to attend all training. Penn Station is proud of the support we provide our franchisees. In addition to our award-winning training, we provide support with site selection, restaurant design, construction support, IT, online ordering, operations and training, marketing, and financial reporting.

Is there a Veterans Discount?

Not at this current time.

Franchise Contact Information

Contact person: Chris Lucas
Contact email: [email protected]

Penn Station is currently expanding into areas throughout the Midwest and East coast, with future opportunities across the country. If you don’t see your market listed, please contact us.

Penn Station Franchise Videos

Penn Station East Coast Subs - Franchise With Us

Penn Station Franchise Ad

Penn Station offers a variety of grilled and cold subs, fresh-cut fries, and hand-squeezed lemonade, prepared in view with quality ingredients. Visit us to experience “good taste” firsthand.

Request Information
  • Min. Cash Required: $300,000
  • Net Worth Required: $500,000
  • Total Startup Investment: $507,500 - $858,750
  • Franchising Since: 1987
  • Franchise Units: 322

Available Markets

USA United States:

IL, IN, KY, MI, MO, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, WV

REQUEST MORE INFORMATION

I would like a complimentary franchise financing consultation with Benetrends Financial (minimum investment $50K, US only).