Restaurant Profile: Our Hero Subs And More

Look for local restaurant profiles by Glenn and Kim Creyts every other week in Life. For inquiries regarding this column and ideas for other restaurant profiles and suggestions for future columns, contact Glenn and Kim via e-mail at glenncreyts@att.net.

Restaurant: Our Hero Subs And More

Locations: Three Springfield locations, including 1020 North Plum St., 1802 East Main St. and 2983 Derr Road. One location in Urbana at 984 North Main St.

Online: www.ourherooriginal.com

Phone: 937-717-5421

Background/Overview: Paris (Harold) Rowland was a Navy military cook and Lorena Stumbo was a painter for Olan Mills in the early 1950s. The Ohio natives then met, married, and raised three sons (Steve, Tim, Doug) and one daughter (Debbie). The couple's individual cooking skills paved their way to opening a string of popular eateries that spanned from 1973 to today.

Through the decades, and often concurrently, they owned and operated the Alpine House Family Restaurant, Yellow Submarine, and Mama Renies Italian Restaurant. A fire at Mama Renies in 1979 devastated the Rowland Family. They decided to move to Florida where Paris worked in food management. That job transferred them to Virginia. Later, the family acquired a chain of fried chicken stores there that they renamed, “Rowland’s Chick - N - Subs.” Paris gloats that daughter Debbie was the driving force behind that enterprise for the family. They returned home to Ohio in 1986 to open the first Our Hero Subs in Urbana.

Today, Doug is the general manager of the Urbana store and the three Clark County locations, including the newest shop that was completely renovated then opened in November 2014 on East Main Street in Springfield. Many other family members and close associates loyally work to manage the chain. However, Paris emphasizes he still oversees everything at Our Hero Subs.

The Menu:

Beverages: Maxwell House Coffee - $1.29; Coca-Cola products (fountain) - $1.59 (med.)/$1.99 (lg.); Freshly Brewed Tea - $1.99; Bottled Sodas and Teas - $1.99.

Kid’s Menu (12 & under): 4-inch sub in choice of ham, turkey, and cheese w/chips, Oreo cookie, & sm. beverage - $4.49.

Soups: “Soup of the Day” could be Cream of Broccoli or Tomato Bisque - $3.29 (sm.)/$3.89 (lg.); Homemade Chili - $3.29 (sm.)/$3.89 (lg.).

Salads: Chef’s Salad - $5.99; Greek Salad - $6.49; Chicken Salad Bowl or Tuna Salad Bowl - $5.99. Paris’ famous “House” Italian/Greek formula salad dressing is one option.

Sides: Fries - $1.49/$2.29; Onion Rings - $1.99/$3.89; Dish Italian Sausage or Dish Meatballs - $4.99.

Bread: Freshly made Italian and multigrain bread in 4-, 6-, 8- and 12-inch rolls made specially for Our Hero Subs.

Oven Baked Specialties: “Dieter’s Delight” has all white turkey breast piled high on multigrain bread; Egg Salad; Italian; Premium Roast Beef; Veggie - $3.99 to $10.29.

Gourmet Burgers: 1950’s style burgers w/100% all beef - $2.99 to $4.99.

Gourmet Hot Dogs: 100% all beef w/natural castings and steamed bun - $1.99 to $2.65.

Desserts: Brownie - $1; Cookie - $1.59; Carrot Cake or Cheesecake - $1.99.

Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

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