Interview with Owner of N5th and Bedford SUBWAY SANDWICHES:
THE OWNER IS A 20 YR OLD UKRANIAN MAN NAMED GREG. He was in the store finishing up rennovations with his friend and he welcomed our questioning. Warrior Eve found him to be a friendly, confident,and optimistic young man.
WARRIOR: Where are you from?
OWNER: Flushing, Queens
WARRIOR: What are you ties, if any, to the Williamsburg/Greenpoint area?
OWNER: My Ukranian grandparents immigrated to Greenpoint and my parents, aunts and uncles grew up there. my grandfather, who has since passed away, used to own the very building I am opening Subway in 100 years ago.
WARRIOR: Whats your familiarity with the area? Have you ever shopped, hung out or eaten here?
OWNER: yes, came here every day of my life. favorite resturaunt is SEA.
WARRIOR: Is this your first franchise?
OWNER: Yes.
WARRIOR: What did you do before this?
OWNER: I've been working since I was 12. I was a stock broker for 2 years before this.
WARRIOR: What motivated you to open up a Subway Sandwhiches?
OWNER: it's a proven product. everybody already knows about it and that it has a certain standard and quality. it was an opportunity. also- everything is syncronized so it is a safer deal- I dont have to be here 24 hrs a day. The invetory system is so tight its really easy to gage theft, sales, business improvement...
WARRIOR: Did the SUBWAY Corporation encourage you to find a location here? How were they a part of the process?
OWNER: SUBWAY brooklyn headquarters are on n11 and driggs- they've been wanting to put a location on bedford.
WARRIOR: You may have noticed that many of the restuarants around here support local artists by exhibiting their work. do you have any intention of doing the same?
OWNER: yes if subway allows it i will local artists' work.
WARRIOR: Do you have any flexibility on how you can decorate?
OWNER: I had to get special approval to leave this original exposed brick, these tin ceilings, and this tile that was here when it was kitchen of Bengal.
WARRIOR: What ws the process?
OWNER: well the board came down and took pictures that they then send to the coorperate office and discuss.
WARRIOR: What % do franchise owners get and how much goes to SUBWAY Corp?
OWNER: every subway has same standardized royalties (we found out 50% to owner, 50% to SUBWAY Corporation)
WARRIOR: How much do employees get payed?
OWNER: individual does decide how much the employees get payed- this isnt structured yet.
WARRIOR: Are you highering locally?
OWNER: Yes
WARRIOR: What kind of responses have you recieved so far from the locals?
OWNER: Mixed, some say "I love it" or "glad there's a clean resturant around here" and"affordable- other deli shops charge too much" and some say "franchise clashes."
WARRIOR: Tell us about the SUBWAY Corp.
OWNER: The corporation is privately owned by 2 people- Fred Daluca (born in brooklyn) and Dr Peter Buck- story is that Fred asked the Dr to borrow $ for college and instead the DR supported Fred to open up sandwich shop.
hmmm.....