Jimmy John’s (West Michigan Ave)
I’m not the type of person that does a lot of restaurant loyalty programs.
I don’t eat at the same place very often. I like to try new things.
One of the few places that I do actually pay attention to the rewards program is Jimmy John’s. It’s the one place we eat at at a lot.
When we skated over at Wings West, there was a Jimmy John’s just down the street. There is other fast food there but Jimmy John’s was always the easiest to grab and to bring back to the rink.
When we moved over to Wings Event Center, there is a Jimmy John’s right on the corner of Sprinkle and Vanrick we pass to get to the arena. That became the go-to for before practice, break, and after practice meals so signing up for rewards was well worth it.
I’m the only one that really pays attention to those rewards points though so when I’m sitting at work and money is a little tight, I can almost always use rewards to get myself a sandwich.
That’s exactly what I did Monday night.
I was working in downtown Kalamazoo and had about an hour before my next assignment. I needed to run out towards campus so when I redeemed my rewards and put in an order, I chose the Jimmy John’s right next to Waldo Stadium.
The Jimmy John’s in the West Main Hill Neighborhood is one that is kind of in an odd location. The address is West Michigan Avenue but that portion of Michigan Avenue is only two blocks long and it sits on the north side of the train tracks across from Waldo Stadium. The restaurant is on the corner of West Michigan Avenue and Eldred Street in a very residential part of town. The parking lot kind of dips down and you can’t even see the sign for Jimmy John’s from the street. The sign is only visibible from across the tracks as you’re driving on Stadium Drive. There are actually spots for two businesses in this very small building. The back part of the building used to be the Kalamazoo Cat Cafe…that’s where we got our two kitties from…but they moved a while ago to a spot on Westnedge.
I think it’s pretty safe to say that if you’ve seen one Jimmy John’s, you’ve seen them all. The restaurant has a very familiar set up with the order counter right in front of you as you walk in with the kitchen right behind it. I went straight for the pick up area but I didn’t see my name. The guys behind the counter asked if I was picking up DoorDash and I said no, I had a mobile app order. They found it and realized it didn’t print so they went to work on it right away.
The sandwich not being ready isn’t too big of an issue because, you know, it’s Jimmy John’s. It didn’t take long. I grabbed a seat in the small dining room that consists of three tables that sit next to large picture windows with a view of the railroad tracks and Waldo Stadium kind of in the distance. My order was for a toasted sandwich and I still don’t think I sat there even five minutes before it was handed over to me.
I’m the weird one in my family. I like the toasted subs. Like, I really like the toasted subs.
My order this time was for the Ultimate Italian Toasted. The sandwich is capicola, salami, ham, bacon, Parmesan, Provolone, lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo, oregano, basil, oil and vinegar. I left off the tomato, onion, and mayo but added Jimmy Peppers to the sandwich. I’ve come around to Jimmy John’s sandwiches over the years but these toasted sandwiches have completely changed my mind on Jimmy John’s. The bread is delicious untoasted but toasted, it gets little bits of crunchy edges that add another layer of bite along with the crunchy edges of the meats and melty layers of cheese. The Jimmy Peppers crank this one up a notch and add a little bit of sweetness with a little bit of heat. This is by far one of my favorite quick service meals right now and I will gladly use up the points my wife and kids rack up to get myself free meals from time to time.
The cost for my meal was just over $3 only because I added on a bottle of Coke. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have cost me anything to use my rewards.
There’s not really much to say about this particular Jimmy John’s locations. They’re really all the same. This was just the convenient one on this particular night. The location is really odd. I have no idea what was in this building before Jimmy John’s came along but it’s not going to be a super desirable location for anything other than a sandwich shop that probably does a lot of deliveries in the surrounding neighborhood that is filled with college students.
SW Michigan Dining 