Opening day on horizon for first Jimmy John’s sandwich shop in Manitoba By: Gabrielle Piché Posted: 5:28 PM CDT Wednesday, Sep. 10, 2025

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Buns will soon be toasted at Manitoba’s first Jimmy John’s.

Mark Beyer is eyeing Sept. 19 — opening day — with anticipation.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Beyer, a Jimmy John’s restaurant co-franchisee. “Our dreams are finally coming to fruition.”

He and friend Derek Nieroda signed a deal to open several Jimmy John’s locations across Manitoba over the next decade. They inked 1740 Pembina Hwy. in Winnipeg as their first stop.

Signage for the U.S.-born sandwich shop also plasters 1430 Ellice Ave. A different franchisee owns the spot, which should open later this fall, Beyer and Nieroda shared.

A third franchisee is launching a Winkler location, also expected to open in autumn. Largely, though, Beyer and Nieroda hold the keys to new Jimmy John’s hubs.

They wouldn’t specify how many eateries are en route — but more are coming, in Winnipeg and larger Manitoba communities, they said.

Jimmy John’s counts at least 2,000 stores in the United States and a platter of sandwich choices, including “unwiches,” or lettuce-wrapped handhelds. Jimmy John’s began in 1983 in Illinois with four sandwich types.

Parent company Inspire Brands LLC announced last year it’d use a franchise model for a Canadian expansion. It tapped Foodtastic Inc., a Montreal-based franchisor, to oversee the northern rollout.

Beyer was paying attention. He’d been “dreaming” of bringing Jimmy John’s to Manitoba for the past decade, he said.

“Our dreams are finally coming to fruition.”

“I mean, that’s what’s drawn travellers to the States — to eat their unique fast food,” added Nieroda.

Both had ordered sub-style sandwiches at Jimmy John’s south of the border. Grand Forks and Fargo, N.D., have outposts.

The business partners have looked at other franchise options through White Spruce Partners, Nieroda’s private capital firm.

“Nothing has ever fired us up more than Jimmy John’s,” said Beyer, who’ll act as general manager of the eateries.

Beyer previously managed a team at Canada Life. Before that, he was a restaurant cook for a decade.

He and Nieroda contacted Foodtastic early last year — several months before U.S. President Donald Trump was re-elected — and after much negotiation, they landed a deal.

A trade war between Canada and the United States has since erupted. In its wake, a ‘Buy Canadian’ sentiment has flooded Manitoba.

“We’re hiring 40 local Winnipeg staff, we’re born and raised in Charleswood… We’re really excited to support local.”

Geopolitical tensions have put a slight damper on the new eatery’s unveiling, Nieroda acknowledged.

“At the end of the day, we’re hiring 40 local Winnipeg staff, we’re born and raised in Charleswood,” he continued. “We’re really excited to support local.”

Canadian ingredients — meat and produce — will come from Sysco, he said. Bread will be made on site daily and won’t be sold to customers if it’s more than four hours old, Beyer added.

Jimmy John’s is the latest in a string of American chains to enter Manitoba. Arby’s opened in Tuxedo in March to a lineup; the site ran out of roast beef on launch day.

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers began taking customers in May. Winnipeggers waited for hours when Krispy Kreme arrived in June 2024.

Subway, Firehouse Subs, Tim Hortons and Quiznos already provide sandwich options for Manitobans. Beyer called competition “great.”

“Jimmy John’s brings a different type of premium to sandwiches,” he said, adding the subs can be ready in 90 seconds.

Jimmy John’s Pembina Highway location is the first in Canada to have a drive-thru. Stores have also opened in Toronto and Niagara Falls.

The chain launched in El Salvador and South Korea in September and October 2024. Its parent company, Inspire Brands, houses labels like Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings and Dunkin’.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com