Two area franchisees for the Jersey Mike’s Subs fast casual dining restaurant chain are expanding their businesses and will be opening new locations in Pottstown and Exeter Township.
In Pottstown, a 1,500-square-foot Jersey Mike’s will be opening at 200 Shoemaker Road. The new location will be the eighth Jersey Mike’s location for owner Harry Gallo.
“Pottstown is a very active community with a busy shopping area. As part of the community, we can really support the daily needs of our customers. We look forward to bringing our fresh sliced/fresh grilled sub sandwiches to Pottstown,” Gallo said.
He anticipates opening in January or February 2026, with a team of about 18 to 20 employees.
Two new Jersey Mike’s Subs will be opening in the tri-county region in 2026 – in Exeter Township and in Pottstown. This photo shows the Jersey Mike’s in Upper Providence Township, owned by Harry Gallo, who plans to open a location in Pottstown. Gerrit Curran, who owns two Jersey Mike’s in Berks County, will open at the Exeter Commons Shopping Center. (DONNA ROVINS – MEDIANEWS GROUP PHOTO)
Gallo’s team currently operates five locations in the Greater Philadelphia area: in Whitpain Township, Horsham, Upper Providence Township, West Chester and Radnor. Gallo’s team also operates two Jersey Mike’s in the Pittsburgh area.
In Berks County, franchise owner Gerrit Curran will be moving into a 2,000-square-foot space formerly occupied by GameStop, at the Exeter Commons Shopping Center, 4611 Perkiomen Ave.
Gerrit Curran (Courtesy Jersey Mike’s)
“We have operated on Fifth Street and in Wyomissing for some time now, and we have always wanted to come over to the Exeter side of town. It has been almost seven years no,w but we finally found a space that we can work with, and we are eager to open up to the community.”
Curran told MediaNews Group he will be taking over the space effective Feb. 1. Work to be done to get the space ready, he said, includes updating the utilities within the space, as well as plumbing, electric, framing and finish work.
“It is typically about a three-month process from start to finish,” he said.
Curran anticipates an opening in early May and said the new Jersey Mike’s will include about 20 team members.
Curran currently operates 26 Jersey Mike’s locations throughout Pennsylvania, including the two existing Berks County locations, at Broadcasting Square Shopping Center, 3225 Spring Township, which opened in 2019; and at 3255 Fifth Street Highway in Muhlenberg Township, which opened in 2018.
In addition to Berks County, Curran operates Jersey Mike’s in the Poconos and the Lehigh Valley.
The Jersey Mike’s Subs, 3225 N. Fifth Street Highway. (BILL UHRICH – MEDIANEWS GROUP FILE)
Jersey Mike’s
Jersey Mike’s was founded by Peter Cancro, who bought his first sub shop in 1975 at age 17 in Manasquan, N.J. Cancro was working at that boardwalk sub shop when he learned the owner wanted to sell. Cancro got a loan from his football coach — who was also a banker — and purchased the shop. Cancro grew the brand to more than 4,000 locations open and under development.
Jersey Mike’s sandwiches are prepared in front of customers, with meats and cheeses sliced for each sandwich, and bread that is baked in each store, according to information on the company’s website.
In November 2024, it was announced that private equity firm Blackstone would acquire a controlling stake in Jersey Mike’s Subs for $8 billion, according to reporting in Forbes.
In April, Cancro stepped down from his role as CEO after 50 years of leadership. Charlie Morrison, former chairman and CEO of Wingstop, was named chief executive officer of Jersey Mike’s, effective April 28, 2025.
Cancro remains chairman of the company’s board of directors and a significant minority shareholder.
A hallmark of the chain is its commitment to philanthropy. In March each year, the chain holds its Month and Day of Giving. During the month, Jersey Mike’s locations accept donations. On the Day of Giving, however, 100% of total sales from the day are donated to local charities that include hospitals, youth organizations, food banks and more.
This year, the fast casual chain raised more than $30 million to help more than 200 local charities around the country — surpassing the $25 million raised during the 2024 campaign. Since the Month of Giving began in 2011, Jersey Mike’s has raised $143 million for local charities.
The Jersey Mike’s locations choose the charity they want to support. For the second year, 28 Jersey Mike’s Subs in the greater Philadelphia and Wilkes-Barre areas chose the nonprofit Where Angels Play as their charity of choice.
Where Angels Play builds playgrounds and names them in remembrance of family members who tragically or suddenly passed away.
This year, the greater Philadelphia and Wilkes-Barre area Jersey Mike’s, along with four Connecticut locations, raised a total of $368,765 for the organization.