Tri-Cities a hot bed for Jersey Mike’s. Popular sandwich chain to add 4th shop

Tri-Cities appears to be a hot prospect for Jersey Mike’s Subs sandwich shops.

The owner of a Kennewick outlet set to open this fall, told the Herald he is planning another Jersey Mike’s store in Pasco next year as well.

That’s four of the popular chain expected to open in Tri-Cities over the next couple years.

The other three include two in Richland that are owned by father-son duo Derek and Dylann Tonn, and one in front of Columbia Center mall owned by Tim Klienfelter.

“I had not realized there was no Jersey Mike’s in Eastern Washington except in Spokane,” Klienfelter told the Herald thinking back to a few years ago.

The Walla Walla native was a 20-year Comcast executive at the time who had been living on the west side of the state.

During a trip back to Tri-Cities to visit family, he mentioned to his wife how much he wished North Bend had a Jersey Mike’s instead of the basic fare they’d grab on the go.

“Then, I saw the signs that a brand new store just opened,” he said. “It was as if the gods were giving me a sign.”

The wheels started churning, and he began talking to Jersey Mike’s officials about buying a franchise.

“I thought — this is a fantastic opportunity. Tri-Cities should have a Jersey Mike’s, and it is crazy that they don’t.”

However, his passion for the new venture couldn’t compete with the demands of his job working to expand Comcast’s network into underserved areas.

“To effectively run Jersey Mike’s, you can’t buy it and turn it over to someone else. You have to be hands-on to do it right,” he said.

Then with COVID, a restructuring of his company eliminated his job. The loss became a blessing, and the buyout not only allowed him to return his focus to opening the stores, but also allowed him and his wife to move back home.

Klienfelter now is looking forward to packing and returning to the Mid-Columbia where all of his family, including his in-laws still live. With this two kids grown and out of the house, the time is right.

“It is an opportunity for fun but also to be near family,” he said.

Klienfelter told the Herald that he hopes construction on the inside of the Kennewick Jersey Mike’s at 1659 Columbia Center Blvd. will begin in June and the goal is to open by September. In the meantime, he has been working at store in Beaverton, Ore., as part of his training.

The Kennewick outlet will be sandwiched between a Starbucks and a Mod Pizza that opened in March in a strip mall owned by Hogback Development from Yakima.

Klienfelter doesn’t have a location for the Pasco store locked in. Once he gets his footing, he said his goal is to operate up to five stores in the region.

The Tonns will open their first Jersey Mike’s in Richland at 2729 Queensgate Drive that GameStop will be vacating by August.

The Tonns haven’t finalized a location for their second Richland restaurant that they also want to open next year.

Email Allison Stormo at astormo@tricityherald.com to share news about your restaurant, food truck, drinking establishment or other changes.

This story was originally published May 24, 2021 at 5:00 AM.