Jimmy John’s franchise expands in Middle Georgia. 1st of 4 new shops coming to Byron
When William Amos of Perry decided to make a career change, he was certain of one thing.
“I knew I didn’t want to be in an office in downtown Atlanta forever,” said Amos, who left an accounting position to own and operate Jimmy John’s franchise restaurants in 2022.
Even on the worst days since changing his path, he’s never once wanted to turn back.
Today, Amos is gearing up to open his fifth Jimmy John’s — this one in Byron — with three more planned for Middle Georgia in the future. His company is Middle Georgia Subs.
Jimmy John’s is known for its variety of sub sandwiches made with fresh-baked bread, hand-sliced meats and fresh veggies.
Popular Jimmy John’s menu items in Middle GA
Amos’ favorite sandwich is the #9 Italian Night Club with salami, capocollo, ham, provolone, onion, oil and vinegar, oregano-basil, mayonnaise, tomato, and lettuce. He adds extra hot peppers and Kickin’ Ranch sauce, which returned to the Jimmy John’s menu after a year-long hiatus.
The Italian Night Club is also among the three most popular sandwiches at his stores. The other two are the #4 Turkey Tom with turkey, mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato, and the #12 Beach Club, with turkey, double provolone, avocado spread, cucumber, mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato.
“While we obviously specialize in sub sandwiches, any on our menu can be ordered on square wheat bread, tortilla wrap, or an ‘unwich’ — which is a lettuce wrap. It is great for those with allergies, intolerances or simply looking to avoid carbs,” Amos said.
Sides include a variety of Jimmy John’s chips, homestyle potato salad, pesto bowtie pasta salad and pickles, according to the menu. Desserts include a fudge chocolate chip brownie and chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin cookies. Beverages are Coke products.
Jimmy John’s is expected to roll out toasted sandwiches in March, with franchisers like Amos given the OK to launch this new feature earlier. Amos may be offering toasted sandwiches as early as February, depending on when the ovens arrive at his locations and after staff training.
Jimmy John’s also offers catering, with the most popular option the boxed lunch that includes sandwich, chip, cookie, and pickle spear, Amos said.
The Byron location
The new Jimmy John’s will be part of a new build at 404 North Ga. 49 next to a Dunkin’ and Chick-fil-A in Byron and less than a half-mile from Interstate 75.
The more than 3,500-square-foot building will include a 1,500-square-foot space for the Jimmy John’s and another 2,064-square-feet for a second retail space that’s available for rent.
Nick Patel of the QSR Group behind Middle Georgia Dunkin’ locations said he would like to see a Mexican restaurant come into the available space. The QSR Group owns the property and is behind the new build.
Byron doesn’t have a Mexican restaurant, Patel noted. He said such a restaurant would be a good fit among a host of restaurants along Ga. 49 near I-75.
Unique to the new Jimmy John’s in Byron is it will be the first in Middle Georgia to have a drive-thru, Amos noted.
The new restaurant also will offer inside seating for just over two dozen people, limited covered patio seating, an online ordering pickup shelf and delivery.
Site work has started on the property, with the new Jimmy John’s targeted to open mid-year 2025. Amos plans to hire about 20 people with available positions to post to job sites about two months prior to opening, he said.
Beginnings
Amos currently owns and operates four Jimmy John’s, including two in Macon. He purchased the one at 781 Spring St., Suite 102, in August 2022 and the other at 4650 Forsyth Road, Suite 155, in September 2022.
His Woodstock location, which was a new build, opened in late December 2022, and he purchased the Tifton location in January 2024.
“I do a little bit of everything, and my days are dependent on where I need to be the most,” Amos said. “Today, for example, I was delivering at the downtown Macon store. We had some drivers call out.
“I’m a full-time owner/operator. I do everything as far as the development to operating the business,” he said.
He chose franchising because of the proven business model. He always loved Jimmy John’s, enjoying the subs while in college.
“I just really love the concept and the simplicity of it,” said Amos, who earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration at the University of Georgia. “We’re just making sandwiches.
“So the simplicity of operations was a big part for me,” he said. “Secondly, I wanted to move home, and the opportunity for growth in the Central Georgia area was a big reason why it made a lot of sense, too.”
He and his wife, Alex, who met in college, were able to do that last year. She’s a special education teacher at David Perdue Elementary in Warner Robins. They make their home in Perry with their dog, Sanford, a golden retriever.
Amos expressed gratitude for his Jimmy John’s team members, with a nod to his general managers and singling out his district manager Aaron Cline.
The first Jimmy John’s opened in Charleston, Illinois, in January 1983, according to the company website. At age 19, Jimmy John Liautaud started with just four sandwiches, including the Turkey Tom.
The other three were the #1 The Pepe with smoked ham and provolone, #3 Totally Tuna with tuna salad and cucumbers, and the #5 Vito with salami, capocollo, provolone, onion, oil & vinegar & oregano-basil. All Jimmy John sandwiches also come with mayo, lettuce and tomato.
In 1994, the first franchise Jimmy John’s opened in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Today, there are more than 2,600 locations in 44 states, according to an Inspire Brands fact sheet. The Atlanta-based restaurant company purchased the Jimmy John’s in October 2019.
This story was originally published January 10, 2025 at 8:56 AM.