Pat O'Day Attempting to bring Subway to Friday Harbor Washington- Do you want fast food here?

According to the Journal of the San Juans Friday Harbor may be about to have it's first fast food franchise EVER.  By definition, a fast food restaurant is "sometimes known as a quick service restaurant or QSR, a specific type of restaurant characterized both by its fast food cuisine and by minimal table service. Food served in fast food restaurants typically caters to a "meat-sweet diet" and is offered from a limited menu; is cooked in bulk in advance and kept hot; is finished and packaged to order; and is usually available ready to take away, though seating may be provided. Fast food restaurants are usually part of a restaurant chain or franchise operation, which provisions standardized ingredients and/or partially prepared foods and supplies to each restaurant through controlled supply channels."


Subway. That's right, home to Jared Fogle- "the Subway Guy," "the five dollar foot long," high fructose syrups in their "whole grain breads" and 33,564 chains around the world.  Just what we were looking for in an organically driven, home inspired location,  belovedly "off the map and "far from America." Next I'm guessing we'll be seeing catering trucks at the ferry terminal pitching hot dogs and sauerkraut.


Pat and Stephanie O'Day certainly dont see the humor in this. According to the article, the real estate agent, pitchman for Schick Shadel Hospital, and rock radio pioneer — is considering branching into food. According to the O"Days, the signage could be "tasteful and non-neon" and would blend in with architectural elements common to the Downtown Historic District. The restaurant would have some indoor seating, but would mostly serve to-go customers and wouldn't impact "sit-down" restaurants in town. Sure. Tell that to Market Chef and others who strive to make a living on the islands without the fanfare of a national chain in their back pocket. 

So let's look at Subway, the international conglomerate potentially coming to the islands.

• 33,564 franchises in 92 countries.
• It is the second largest restaurant chain globally
• It is based out of Connecticut with 5 regional centers in the US alone and another 5 worldwide
• in 2008 it was ranked #3 as the fastest growing franchise in the world
• Started by a guy named Fred deLuca when he needed some cash to pay for medical school tuition back in 1965. In 2007, Forbes Magazine named this man the 242nd richest man in the world with a net worth of over 1.5 billion dollars. 
• If you're interested in having one out at Roche Harbor so no one goes hungry, looks like the stats suggest it is an initial investment of $15k followed by an 8% ongoing royalty and 4.5% advertising fee. Maybe we should all open one.

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