A deli's debut: Popular nationwide deli opens first Northwest Arkansas location to positive response
Posted on Friday, July 18, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/WhatsUp/67261/
Judging by the line of people waiting for a sandwich at noon on a recent Tuesday, Northwest Arkansas seems to have discovered Jason's Deli.
The store, located near the intersection of College Avenue and Joyce Boulevard in north Fayetteville, is the chain's first location in the area and the third in the state.
The response to the new store has been overwhelming, said Lennon Patton, director of marketing and director of catering sales for the company, which is based in Addison, Texas.
"We've never seen, as long as I've been with the company, an opening this strong," he said by phone from his office in Oklahoma City.
The Fayetteville store, at about 6,000 square feet, is among the largest of the chain's more than 175 locations. The larger size was prompted by the high sales volume of the two Little Rock delis and that Northwest Arkansas has many transplants from regional cities such as Dallas and Kansas City, Mo., where Jason's Delis are already established, Patton said.
Although there are many delis in the area, Jason's has established itself by focusing on the quality of the food, Patton said.
The company has no trans fat in any of its menu items. No monosodium glutamate is used, either. Many of the products used are organic, including the carrots, spinach and field greens. Patton also said the store prides itself in making most of the menu items locally.
"Anything using a recipe is made on site," he said.
The menu for the Jason's Deli location features nearly 50 entrees, despite the fact the store does not, unlike some in the chain, serve breakfast.
The menu is divided into several categories: Real Choices, sandwiches and wraps served with organic blue corn tortilla chips or baked chips and a pickle; Soups, Fruit and Salad, featuring an all-you-can eat salad bar ($6.79); favorite sandwiches; po' boys; pasta dishes; muffalettas; paninis and wrapinis, the latter a version of the grilled sandwich pressed in olive oil wrap bread; potatoes; or the build-your-own sandwich option.
Menu highlights include the Ciabatta Garden, a combination of organic field greens, guacamole and pico de gallo, cucumbers, bell peppers and a low-fat balsamic vinaigrette on organic whole-wheat Ciabatta bread ($5.99); the Turkey Wrap, oven-roasted turkey breast paired with homemade guacamole, ranch dressing, tomatoes and bean sprouts ($5.79); Rueben The Great, hot corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Russian dressing served on rye bread with chips and a pickle ($6.99); the Beefeater po' boy, hot roast beef and provolone cheese served on New Orleans-style bread served with a cup of au jus, chips and a pickle ($6.49); the Chicken Panini, marinated chicken breast with provolone cheese, basil pesto, pine nuts, Roma tomatoes and spinach pressed between French bread ($6.49); and the Pollo Mexicano potato, a spud topped with marinated chicken breast meat, sour cream, pico de gallo, cheddar cheese and southwest spices ($5.79).
The build-your-own sandwiches ($5.49-$5.99, depending on meat choice) can be made with choices including roast beef, ham, New York-style pastrami, smoked turkey breast, croissants, onion buns, Ciabatta bread, and choices of veggies and condiments. All are served with chips and a pickle, but cheese is an additional 59 cents.
The restaurant also features a selection of cookies, cheesecakes, a children's menu and specialty drinks.
A full catering menu is available, including breakfast items. Catering makes up about 50 percent of most Jason's Deli locations' sales, Patton said. The restaurant also delivers items, but a minimum $25 order is required. Online ordering of catering and menu items is available through the company's Web site at www.jasonsdeli.com.
The company is already looking to expand to other cities in Northwest Arkansas.