Northwood News ♦ February 2012

Happy Ending for Subway Franchise at Woodmoor

By Jacquie Bokow

Subway franchise owner Joseph Gomes had been distraught over being forced to move his establishment into a much smaller space a few doors down at the Woodmoor Shopping Center last fall, but now finds he has “no issues“ with his new situation. Gomes spent $160,000 to demolish the inside of his old store and renovate the new space.

Owner Joseph Gomes, right, is all smiles these days in his new Subway shop, where he is helped by Jonathan Aguilar, left, and Walter Zepeda. “I’m good,” he’s finally able to say.

As was explained in the cover story of the June 2011 issue of the Northwood News, the leases to both Subway and China House were ending at the same time. Regency Centers, which manages the property, decided to oust the Chinese restaurant that had occupied its spot for half a century and move Subway to that smaller location to make way for a new Chipotle, which it signed before renegotiating the other leases.

Although the new Subway eatery, left, is much smaller than it used to be (the old premises, where Chipotle now resides, are shown below at right), the change is working out for the owner.

Although he was worried that the new Chipotle would put him out of business, that hasn’t been the case. For the first week that Chipotle was open, Gomes said he averaged $381 fewer sales every day. After that, he said, “It bounced back.”

Although he’s been taking in hundreds of dollars less a week, his rent — due to the smaller space — is $1,000 less, meaning he’s still able to make a profit.

The original space for the Subway franchise, now used by Chipotle.

“I have my own clientele, they have their own clientele,” he observed. “I still have my regular customers.”

But, commented Gomes, “I always have to be keeping in mind how I can do better.

“When God closes a door for me, He opens up something else,” explained Gomes. “The neighborhood is the best thing I’ve got.” ■

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