Business & Tech

DiBella's Opens Sixth Area Location in Mayfield Heights

Rochester-based chain has been in Mentor, Solon.

was a busy place on Tuesday as customers lined up to celebrate the grand opening of the SOM Center Road store.

"It's going really well," said DiBella's area supervisor Dan Miller, who was pleased to open a restaurant in his hometown of Mayfield Heights.

Adam Burton, DiBella's chief marketing officer, said his company sets itself apart from Subway, Quizno's and other sub shops.

"It's not a typical sub shop. We want it to be a comfortable place where you can come in an enjoy yourself," Burton said. "It's warmer and friendly to people. Other places want to get you in and get you out."

DiBella's started in 1918 in a Rochester, N.Y. grocery store and now has 28 locations stretching from Connecticut to Michigan. The Godfather, a sandwich with Genoa salami, capicola and spicy ham, is one of its oldest subs and continues to be one of the most popular, according to Burton.

He added that many customers don't realize that subs, which are made fresh, can be customized. "We'll make them any way you want," he said.

Burton said he's found that tastes vary according to location. In New York state, customers order cold subs about 70 percent of the time. In Cleveland, that's been reversed – about 70 percent of orders are for hot subs.

"Especially in Cleveland we sell a lot of cheesesteaks," he said.


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