The Good Times Sub Shop opened in Palmetto Bay just before the holidays and it has become a hit with customers along the US1 auto sales alley. The sub shop at 17225 S. Dixie Hwy., Suite 102, is on the east side of the highway.
Customers can eat in, order to go or order for delivery. There’s seating for 15 inside and a couple of outdoor tables as well.
The sub shop is the creation of Philip Woerner and his best friend Mario Bojorquez, who graduated from Boston College and Georgia Tech, respectively. The two played three sports together in high school — track, cross-country and soccer.
“That’s how we got to know each other,” Bojorquez said.
The recent college graduates had worked at desk jobs but they wanted to do something entrepreneurial, so they decided to take a chance on a sub shop because they both loved subs.
Woerner’s degree is in business marketing and Bojorquez’s is in industrial engineering. Both degrees come in handy for their new venture.
“It’s been very good to have a partner with those skills,” Woerner said.
He thinks differently than I do so it’s good to tag team.”
Bojorquez said he has done a few things to streamline some of the processes to make the work more efficient.
“How to make the subs, just thinking about how stuff works,” Bojorquez said.
Good Times Sub Shop serves up both hot and cold subs. While the menu is primarily subs, they also have chicken wings with five different sauces. Plus, they carry sides like cookies and brownies.
Growing up, the business partners had a favorite sub shop they would go to when they wanted a great sub. They kept the idea of those great tasting subs in mind when they opened their own place. They also hired a consultant to help them learn how to cook properly and develop recipes.
“He taught us how to make the food, how to manage the food, where to buy the ingredients,” Bojorquez said.
One of the ways to maintain the quality is to make everything from scratch, including the dressings and all the marinades,
“We prepare everything in the mornings,” Woerner said.
The shop has hired two full-time employees while the owners split their managerial duties, with one working the opening and the other the closing of the store. They switch off so neither is stuck with one schedule.
“I always knew I’d rather do my own thing than work for a big corporation,” Woerner said.
“I have always enjoyed cooking, but I never envisioned myself as a sub shop owner.”
Even so, he is doing it well and as a result, the business is thriving.
“The customers that come are very loyal,” Woerner said. “Seventy percent that have come once have returned. We’re right under an office building, which helps.”
Bojorquez said customers are coming back, but they are seeing new faces every day.
At this point, the churrasco sub is the favorite by far. “I don’t think there is another sub shop in the area you can go to get a churrasco sub,” Bojorquez said. “What tops it off is our homemade chimichurri.”
The sub shop is getting rave revues on Yelp.com and even iPhone’s Siri sends people in the area there for good subs. You can see the offerings at www.goodtimessubshop.com.
The shop is open 11-7 p.m. Monday- Friday and 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturdays. For information or delivery call 305-964- 7418.
