AHC/Zero’s Subs continues to buck the declining economy with its “MicroStore” concept, opening four new stores in California by the end of the first quarter, with a fifth under contract. Furthermore, the West Coast franchisor will continue aggressive expansion in 2009, with five more locations in the works.
AHC/Zero’s Subs is excited to announce that its newest location will open inside an existing liquor store on Coronado Island in mid-December. This location, a MicroStore, will be the second Zero’s Subs of its kind. The first Zero’s Subs “MicroStore” opened last fall in a gas station convenience store on Route 395 in Olancha, a heavily-traveled road between Mammoth Lakes and Death Valley, California.
Zero’s Subs MicroStore is an original concept that was piloted in just under 300 square feet inside a gas station. Due to its success, Zero’s Subs is expanding the concept across the West, beginning with Coronado Island. The opening of the Montebello and Anaheim stores will follow in January. Zeros’ Subs franchises, including several multi-unit sales, are under contract in Koreatown, Hollywood, West Los Angeles, Vermont/Silverlake, and Pasadena/Glendale.
“Our MicroStores use existing or off-the-shelf equipment and require no exterior structural changes such as a kitchen hood,” says Tracy Taft, Zero’s Subs Director of Operations. “For a nominal outlay, existing store owners can parlay our nationally recognized brand into increased clientele and invigorated sales,” Taft says. “We’ve seen Zero’s Subs triple ancillary item profits.”