New Jimmy John’s on Igou Gap is Chattanooga’s third location for fast-growing chain

John Kleban, president of Chattanooga-based JAK Foods, Inc., on Tuesday launched Chattanooga's third Jimmy John's Sandwich shop on Igou Gap Road. JAK Foods now operates 17 franchise restaurants, including Jimmy John's, KFC, Long John Silver's and A&W. John Kleban, president of Chattanooga-based JAK Foods, Inc., on Tuesday launched Chattanooga's third Jimmy John's Sandwich shop on Igou Gap Road. JAK Foods now operates 17 franchise restaurants, including Jimmy John's, KFC, Long John Silver's and A&W.

By Tim Omarzu April 6, 2016 3 min read

A Jimmy John’s deliveryman makes a run in this file photo.

Chattanooga got its third Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches shop Tuesday when the latest franchised sandwich shop opened in time for lunch in a new strip mall just off Gunbarrel Road near the Target store.

It’s the seventh Jimmy John’s to be opened by JAK Foods, Inc., a business headquartered at 2401 Broad St. in Chattanooga. The franchisee also has a Jimmy John’s in Cleveland, Tenn., and five in Knoxville.

JAK Foods, which also runs a total of 10 KFC, A&W and Long John Silver’s fast food restaurants, opened its first Jimmy John’s 2 1/2 years ago, partly because company president John Kleban, appreciates the chain’s “freaky fast” delivery.

“It has a true point of difference,” Kleban said. “No one else can deliver products in less than 15 minutes consistently.”

Chattanooga’s three Jimmy John’s franchises – another is downtown and another is in Hixson – all have different owners and separate delivery areas, Kleban said, that are mapped out by specialists from Jimmy John’s corporate headquarters so drivers will be able deliver food quickly.