Sheila Bautz
Special to the Herald
Jersey Mike’s Subs is in the process of a Canadian Expansion Westward and will soon open a restaurant in The Great Gateway to The North.
The popular franchise brand is part of the Redberry Restaurants’ Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) franchises.
Redberry Restaurants owns and operates more than 200 restaurants across the nation with brands such as Burger King, Taco Bell and Jersey Mike’s Subs. The Jersey Mike’s Sub franchise is employing 30 team members at the Prince Albert location, which opens on Oct. 1. The franchise brings with it a reputation for its culture of generosity and giving back to the communities they operate in.
“We are excited to get to know our new neighbors in Prince Albert. At Jersey Mike’s, giving back is central to our mission,” said Paul Day, Regional Manager-West for Jersey Mike’s Subs. “Since the beginning of 2024, Jersey Mike’s in Canada has raised more than $135,000 for local organizations and we look forward to making a difference in PA too.”
In August 2024, Redberry Restaurants opened its first Canadian Jersey Mike’s Subs in Markham, Ontario. Currently, there are 15 Ontario locations in operation. This summer, the first Saskatchewan based QSR opened in Regina to launch the franchise’s expansion into Western Canada. The corporation plans to open 300 locations across the nation over the next decade.
“We opened our first Canadian Jersey Mike’s Subs outside of Ontario in Regina in July, a great place to kick off our expansion to Western Canada,” said Day. “We have received a terrific welcome and are looking forward to opening in Saskatoon on September 24, followed by Prince Albert on October 1st.”
In 2005, Redberry Restaurants entered Canada as one of the largest QSR franchisees in the country. Since then, the corporation is the recipient of multiple prestigious awards, such as the Food & Hospitality Magazine’s Pinnacle Company of the Year award. The award recognizes corporations for their outstanding growth, giving back to the communities they operate in, and demonstrating a culture of support.
“Our unprecedented growth trajectory is accomplished with the lens of enhancing the communities in which we serve and encouraging each of our team members to lead with kindness, while empowering them to truly be the best versions of themselves,” stated Redberry Restaurants in a public announcement.
Jersey Mike’s touts its subs as authentic and fresh, with their employees being an important ingredient through their dedicated, high-energy work ethic that forms their teams. Everything about the Quick Service Restaurant remains true to the original business, from the first subs made at the original Jersey Mike’s 69 years ago to the quality customer service.
Jersey Mike’s Subs was founded in 1956 by a man known as Mike, who selected a New Jersey scenic vacation spot in the seaside town of Point Pleasant, USA. The location was close to New York City, Philadelphia and Washington DC, which proved a prime spot also for water worshippers and family vacationers. Mike built the menu and recipes, later selling the business to a teenage employee.
“Jersey Mike’s premium meats and cheeses are sliced to order right in front of you and piled high on the in-store baked bread. We always recommend our customers try our subs made Mike’s Way with the freshest vegetables – onions, lettuce and tomatoes – along with an exquisite zing of the juice, red wine vinegar and an olive oil blend, topped off with our signature spices,” said Day. “Our top-selling subs are the #13 The Original Italian and #7 Turkey Breast and Provolone. Authentic cheesesteaks are also grilled fresh to order. (Try the #56 Big Kahuna Cheese Steak!)”
Mike, the original owner, sold his business to a 17-year-old teenager named Peter Cancro, who was employed by Mike at Jersey Mike’s Subs from the age of 14. As submarine sandwiches were new concepts at that time, the teenager, Cancro, was determined to purchase the business. With the support of his football coach, who also happened to be a local banker, Cancro received a loan to purchase Jersey Mike’s Subs.
Cancro remains the CEO with over 2,800 locations currently open or under development. Last year in 2024, Cancro was named the 2024 Restaurant Leader of the Year by Restaurant Business. Jersey Mike’s Subs also received extensive recognition for the QSR’s excellence in quality and customer service. This includes the #1 and #2 rankings for national awards.
In 2025, Jersey Mike’s appeared as #1 Fast Casual in the Nation’s Restaurant News America’s Favorite Chains list, #1 Fast Casual Restaurant Chain in Newsweek’s America’s Best Customer Service 2024 and in the #2 position on Entrepreneur’s 2025 Franchise 500.
Redberry Restaurants are also proud recipients of awards such as the Restaurant Top 200 in The Nation’s Largest and Most Successful Franchisees by Franchise Times, Franchisee of the Year by Burger King for North America in 2021, and Pinnacle Award’s Company of the Year in 2024.
Jersey Mike’s Subs and Redberry Restaurants share an authentic passion for caring about the communities they serve and providing contributions back into the community. The motto of make a difference in someone’s life remains the corporation’s guiding principle at Jersey Mike’s Subs.
In the last decade alone, Jersey Mike’s Sub locations raised a combined $175 million for their local charities through their annual Month of Giving Campaign in March. The fundraiser involves every location where a Jersey Mike’s Sub restaurant is operating. The Day of Giving occurs annually on the last Wednesday in the month of March. Jersey Mike’s Sub franchise owners donate 100 per cent of the day’s profits, known as “not just profit”, to local charities.
In addition, each Jersey Mike’s Sub restaurant holds fundraisers for local charities around each restaurant opening. In Canada, the 2025 initiative raised $100,000 for four local charities as the QSRs began operating in the country. The giving back campaign includes donating to help Make-A-Wish Canada, which grants life-changing wishes across the country for children with critical illnesses.
Redberry Restaurants continues to be a leader in supporting its brand partners, such as Jersey Mike’s, and their charitable initiatives in support of important causes. The corporation continuously sponsors multiple local community initiatives, such as being an active participant in the YMCA and University Co-Op programs, which offer jobs and career training. Another initiative, for instance, is The Burger King Scholarship program, which raised in excess of $385,000 allocated to deserving students across Canada, including Redberry restaurant employees.
The Prince Albert location opens at 801 15th Street East.
