Former Price Chopper manager rides Subway into Cooperstown
by Janine Giordano |
COOPERSTOWN – A new Subway is pulling into Cooperstown, with its final stop -The Commons. “We want it to be an upscale, affordable place to bring the family,” said former Richfield Springs Price Chopper Comanager Joe Guidera, who, along with his wife, Ann, are the new owners of the sandwich shop. They currently own one other Subway shop, in Little Falls.The decor is muted hues of burgundy, cream and green, with sharp, colorful framed photographs of healthy looking vegetables gracing the walls. He plans to seat as many as 40 people in this shop, situated adjacent to the video store and a few shops down from The Bean. It’s a great location, he said, “with (about) 97 teams a week from the Dreams Park” frequenting this shopping center all summer long. “But we’re here to serve our local customers all year round.” It’s all about “treating the local people right,” he said. “We’re going to give them good clean service, a nice place to eat, good food. We’re even handicap accessible,” he added, during a pre-opening tour of his latest venture. While the decor is the latest Subway protocol, Guidera noted his handiwork with the stylish ceramic floor and wall tiling he installed himself. While the decor may be delicious to look at, Guidera promises the finest sandwich shop fare around. “We will be baking all of our breads fresh daily, and fresh baked cookies, too. Chocolate chip, macadamia nut, oatmeal raisin. Even low fat chocolate chip cookies.” In addition to the baked goods, his shop will offer the signature soups that Subway people are accustomed to. “I’ve got older ladies coming by asking, ‘are you going to have those soups?’ Yes, we will. That potato soup...it’s great.” What goes better with soup than a nice, thick sandwich? Guidera said only the finest “gold quality” meats will be served, along with a large selection of dressings and accoutrements like lettuce, olives, pickles, onions, tomatoes. If it goes on a sandwich, you’ll find it at Subway. For the diet conscious, they will be offering low carbohydrate sandwiches. “We’re also going to push big on parties, with three to six foot subs, sandwich platters, cookie platters. “You name it.” They aim to reach out to the community and treat the local businesses and residents right, he said. This type of attitude is what made his time at the Richfield Springs Price Chopper such a success. “I helped open that store. Now I’m in Utica. But I stop in (to the Richfield Springs location) all the time. People are always happy to see me and always ask when I’m coming back. They were great associates. It’s a great store.” His soon to open Subway is expected to bring as many as 10 jobs to the community, and double that in the summer hopefully, he said. The hours will be 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. With three years under his belt at his successful Little Falls shop, Guidera stressed that he is in no way affiliated with the Subway once located east of the current shop. “We’re new owners, new staff, new location,” he added.
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