This week, Valencia, California, resident Kyanna Isaacson, 26, fulfills her longtime dream of owning a Jersey Mike’s Subs restaurant. She will open her new location on December 13, at 24453 Magic Mountain Parkway right in town, with a free sub fundraiser to benefit the WiSH Education Foundation.
Isaacson started working for Jersey Mike’s franchisee Steve Youlios in 2008 when she was just 16 years old, a junior in high school. She learned every facet of the business, rising from crewmember to Shift Leader to Supervisor to store General Manager to her current position of Operations Manager overseeing five restaurants in the Santa Clarita Valley.
“It’s very exciting—and weird—to go from working at Jersey Mike’s at 16 to now being at this place in my career where I own my own shop,” Isaacson says. “It’s exactly where I want to be.”
In 2016, Isaacson was named Manager of the Year by the national sub shop. As part of her prize, Jersey Mike’s Founder Peter Cancro surprised her by presenting her with a franchise.
This is part of the company’s STAY program, which stands for Sweat Tears And Years, where hard-working managers can partner with mentors/franchisees to become owners.
Isaacson immediately asked Youlios, named Jersey Mike’s Franchisee of the Year in 2011, to become partners in the new venture.
“I’ve never met anyone that has such genuine enthusiasm and respect for Jersey Mike’s Subs,” says Youlios. “She truly embodies all the qualities that have made Jersey Mike’s such a huge success.”
He adds that together they have opened five local stores. “Without her help and her passion for winning and excellence, our success would have been far more difficult to achieve. It is wonderful to have a partner who is honest, who has tremendous energy and enthusiasm, and who has passion for the Jersey Mike’s product and all that the company stands for.”
Isaacson will hold a grand opening and free sub fundraiser from Wednesday, Dec. 13 to Sunday, Dec. 17, to benefit the WiSH Education Foundation. Specifically it will raise funds so that the Hart School District libraries can update and replace their books.
The restaurant is circulating 7,500 coupons throughout the community offering a free regular sub for a minimum $2 contribution to the WiSH Foundation. Customers must have a coupon to be eligible.
Isaacson shares Jersey Mike’s commitment to quality products and exceptional customer service, and are dedicated to giving back to the local community. Since 2010, Jersey Mike’s locations throughout the country have raised more than $25 million for worthy local charities and have distributed more than 1.5 million free sub sandwiches to help numerous causes. This year, the company’s 7th Annual Jersey Mike’s Month of Giving in March raised more than $5.5 million for nearly 150 charities throughout the country.
“The future of Jersey Mike’s is so exciting to me because the future franchisees are people that have been inspired by Peter and want to continue to expand this company. Steve and I plan on opening a lot more stores,” Isaacson says. “I always want to work at Jersey Mike’s. This is all I’ve ever wanted to do.”
Started in 1956, Jersey Mike’s now has 1,500 restaurants open and under development nationwide.
