Jimmy John's
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| Privately held company | |
| Founded | 1983 |
| Founder | Jimmy John Liautaud |
| Headquarters | Champaign, Illinois, United States |
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Number of locations
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2,630 (December 2016) |
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Key people
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James North (CEO) |
| Owner | Jimmy John Liautaud, Roark Capital Group |
| Website | jimmyjohns.com |
Jimmy John's Franchise, LLC is a franchised sandwich restaurant chain, specializing in delivery. Founded by Jimmy John Liautaud in 1983 and headquartered in Champaign, Illinois, in 30 years, the company has grown to more than 2,500 locations in 46 states. Jimmy John's has opened approximately 200 locations per year over the past three years. As of 2014[update], 98% of the locations are franchise-owned.
After Jimmy John Liautaud graduated second to last in his class at Elgin Academy (1982), his father gave him the choice to join the military or start a business. Liautaud chose the latter and his father lent him $25,000 to start a hot dog business, with the son owning 52% of the business, and his father owning 48%. He soon realized that a hot dog business would cost more than he had, so he decided to open a sandwich shop.
On January 13, 1983, the first Jimmy John's opened in a garage in Charleston, Illinois. Paying $200 a month in rent, Liautaud could afford only used equipment consisting of a refrigerator, a chest freezer, an oven, and a meat slicer.
The store was able to realize a profit its first year of business, despite the poor location of the store, due to Jimmy John’s willingness to deliver his sandwiches to the nearby dorms at Eastern Illinois University, as well as his handing out free samples for marketing purposes.
In April 1985, Liautaud bought out his father's interest in the business, becoming the sole owner. In 1986, he opened his second store in Macomb, Illinois, and in 1987, he opened a third in Champaign, Illinois.
In 1988, Liautaud met Jamie Coulter, who would later become the CEO of Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon. Coulter mentored Liautaud, and “taught [him] how to effectively run multiple units.”
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