Jersey Mike’s, an American chain eatery known for its freshly sliced meats, grilled-to-order cheesesteaks, and signature “Mike’s Way” toppings, is opening two new locations in Mississauga later this year.
The Mississauga openings are part of a larger expansion plan, with 300 locations expected across Canada over the next decade under Redberry Restaurants, according to a press release. Jersey Mike’s will open its first spot at Meadowvale Town Centre between late April and early May, followed by another at Heartland Town Centre in July, according to Insauga. These two locations come shortly after the company opened a new location in Pickering last month. Founded in 1956, more than 4,000 Jersey Mike’s locations are open and in development, with seven open in Canada. This, however, is about to change, as Redberry Restaurants announced at the beginning of last year that it will expand the brand significantly throughout Canada.
Jersey Mike’s Subs announced an Area Director and Development Agreement with Redberry Restaurants, one of Canada’s largest restaurant operators, in January 2024. Redberry was named Area Director for Canada and has a development agreement to open 300 Jersey Mike’s restaurants across Canada by 2034 via a combination of Redberry-owned-and-operated stores and supported franchisee locations.
“We are proud to partner with Ken Otto and his team at Redberry,” Peter Cancro, founder and CEO of Jersey Mike’s Franchise Systems, Inc., said in a press release. “Their extensive history and reputation in the restaurant business are second to none. Also critical to our company is that they share the same culture and mission statement: to give and make a difference. They are committed to their team members and their local communities.”
This marks Jersey Mike’s first major international expansion in its 68-year history. Last year, Redberry purchased two existing Jersey Mike’s locations in Kitchener and London and opened five new Jersey Mike’s in Ontario, forming the foundation for rapid new store growth. The Kitchener and London locations were completely remodeled in early 2024 to reflect Jersey Mike’s new image. Redberry owns and operates 180-plus restaurant locations across Canada under the Burger King and Taco Bell brands. Now, together with Jersey Mike’s, it has signed agreements for more than 600 additional restaurants.
“We’re thrilled that Jersey Mike’s entrusted us with bringing their iconic brand to Canada,” Ken Otto, CEO of Redberry, said in a press release. “We resonated strongly with their culture, product, and mission, and are excited to ‘Make it Happen’ for both Jersey Mike’s and their Canadian fans. In addition to building our own Jersey Mike’s, growth will be accelerated by way of supporting other franchisees to join the Jersey Mike’s story in every province across Canada.”
