Negotiations are underway at the mall location, said Brenda LaBonte, manager of the Upper Valley Mall. Patel said that location is expected to open later this summer. He said other locations in the city could also be considered if they make financial sense.
“I think there’s a lot of potential there,” Patel said of the new locations. “There is a market there for Subway, and that’s why I’m opening the store.”
The Sunset Ave. location is in a 1,600-square-foot space, while the Upper Valley Mall location is significantly larger — at about 2,500 square feet. Both locations will employ about 20 employees, some full-time and some part-time.
Patel opened his first Subway restaurant in 2002, and now owns 11 restaurants — mostly in locations on the north side of Columbus. Some of those locations include stores in Dublin, Delaware and Powell.
The Upper Valley Mall location is currently occupied by Fent’s Dairy Corner, which uses the space on weekends on a short-term basis, LaBonte said. However, Fent’s has a permanent location on Troy Road, and if needed Labonte said another space could be made available for Fent’s in the mall as well.
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