A sub chain called Jersey Mike's appears to be opening in Elkridge in the shopping center with Trader Joe's and Perfect Pour -- across from the Costco.
I don't know Mike, but I have received raves from several excited people. I have always held up Philadelphia sandwiches as a gold standard when I think about good locals like C&B Italian Dely on Rte 40. It sounds like Jersey Mike's has a South Jersey pedigree, as Zevonista wrote me:
Used to eat these on the Jersey shore - looking forward to their arrival!
It's been quite a while since I've been to one - but my memory is that they're bigger, with a good amount of meat. Meat sliced as you wait. And the bread is (well, used to be!) great - fresh, baked in store. Hopefully they still do that.
My experience around here is with pizza places, where they do subs kind of as a backup to pizza. They're fine, but it's not how they make their money. Meats not fresh, bread been sitting around for a bit...Fresh bread and fresh-sliced meats will make these sandwiches stand up around here. Marcia confirmed that and said she goes to a Jersey Mike's in Laurel:
I go occasionally to the Jersey Mike's in Laurel. I don't know if you've been to one, their subs aren't the "stuffed with meat" variety but they use great quality real Italian cold cuts (mortadella, etc) in their subs. T he rolls are nice and crusty. Head and shoulders above Subway.This Gateway Overlook center is also the site of the coming-soon Peruvian place Pisco. That's a few doors down. Does anyone know the plan or the timing for Pisco or Jersey Mike's?
Hat tip to Randy, Kerri and several anonymous commenters who also saw the signs for Jersey Mike's in Gateway Overlook.
