Capriotti's Sandwich Shop coming to Corridor

CEDAR RAPIDS - The Capriotti's Sandwich Shop chain will enter the Cedar Rapids market this month with a store near the busy intersection of First Avenue East and Collins Road.

Capriotti's Sandwich Shop franchisee James Gimbel opened the chain's first Iowa store in May 2010 in Davenport's Pheasant Creek Crossing. Gimbel plans to open the Cedar Rapids location July 23 between Best Buy and FedEx Kinko's at 4640 First Ave. NE.

Capriotti's, which has few Midwest locations, is known for its pulled meat turkey and roast beef sandwiches.

Gimbel of Davenport, said the restaurant's turkey and roast beef is slow-roasted overnight  and served the next day. The company's signature sandwich, "the Bobbie," has been described as Thanksgiving dinner on a roll. It is made with fresh roasted turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing and mayo.

"We do things a little differently," Gimbel said.  "Everything is made with quality, fresh ingredients."

The menu also includes the Capastrami, made with hot pastrami, melted Swiss cheese, Russian dressing and coleslaw, and the Slaw Be Joe, made from roast beef, Provolone cheese, Russian dressing and coleslaw.

Capriotti's offers kids' meals and also has added salads made with many of the same sandwich ingredients.

Gimbel said the restaurant will offer delivery and expects to do a good amount of catering. The restaurant will have seating for more than 30, and will employ 15 to 20 full- and part-time workers.

Marc Kustner, a former director of training at Capriotti's, will manage the Cedar Rapids restaurant and work with Gimbel as he builds out the franchise territory, which includes all of Iowa and a western portion of Illinois.

Hours of operation are expected to be 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sundays.

The Capriotti's chain begin in 1976 when Lois Margolet quit her job and borrowed money to buy a boarded-up building in the Little Italy section o f Wilmington, Del.  Margolet lived above the restaurant that she operated with her brother, Alan. The restaurant was named for their grandfather, Philip Capriotti, who often cooked for them.

Today the restaurant chain is owned by Ashley Morris and headquartered in Las Vegas, with its greatest concentration of restaurants in Nevada.