#United States #Cincinnati #MEGA CHEESESTEAK #Penn Station Subs #Down Syndrome Awareness

Penn Station East Coast Subs: A Milestone Year

As we usher in a new year in 2026, Penn Station East Coast Subs is proud to reflect on an exceptional 2025, celebrating a remarkable milestone: 40 years of providing delicious grilled-to-order sandwiches to loyal customers. Known for its mouth-watering subs, crispy fresh-cut fries, and refreshing hand-squeezed lemonade, the franchise celebrated not just longevity but a year marked by strong sales growth, impressive national recognition, and a profound community impact.

Over the course of 2025, Penn Station expanded its footprint with four new restaurant openings and sold 15 additional franchise units, venturing into two new markets. This expansion speaks volumes about the franchise's growing popularity and confidence in its growth trajectory amid a challenging industry landscape. In an environment where many restaurants faced significant hurdles, Penn Station thrived, achieving positive growth across three consecutive quarters. Furthermore, the brand saw comparative same-store sales rise for seven out of the last eight months, reflecting its steady performance.

Lance Vaught, President of Penn Station East Coast Subs, remarked on this triumphant period, stating, “2025 was a defining year for Penn Station. Our continued success is a testament to our commitment to great food, passionate franchisees, and strong community connections.”

To mark its 40th anniversary, Penn Station launched a new loyalty program, Penn Station Rewards. This points-based system aims to enhance customer experiences by encouraging repeat visits while helping franchisees enhance foot traffic and customer loyalty. Investing in digital engagement, the program is intended to pave the way for long-term growth and customer satisfaction.

In an exciting collaboration with Barstool Sports, the popular hosts of Pardon My Take, Big Cat and PFT Commenter, Penn Station introduced the Mega Cheesesteak. This limited-time offer, featuring an ample portion of savory meat and cheese, garnered tremendous enthusiasm among fans and elevated the brand’s profile, drawing increased traffic to locations nationwide.

2025 also saw Penn Station recognize various accolades that denote its high standards and commitment to excellence. The brand secured a spot on Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500, ranking at No. 459, and was featured on Nation's Restaurant News' Technomic Top 500 at No. 171. Additionally, its inclusion in the Best Franchise Deals Hall of Fame, awarded by QSR Magazine, highlights the continuous recognition earned for at least four consecutive years.

In terms of culinary accolades, Penn Station ranked No. 3 on USA TODAY's list of Best Sandwich Shops. This year also saw the brand named Cincinnati's Best Cheesesteak for the 15th year in a row and recognized as serving the No. 1 French Fries according to CityBeat readers. Other commendations from Franchise Business Review spanned multiple categories, recognizing Penn Station as a top franchise for culture, recession resilience, overall satisfaction, and profitability.

Beyond excellent performance metrics and numerous accolades, Penn Station has made significant strides in community service, particularly with its commitment to raising awareness for Down Syndrome. In September 2025, the franchise proudly presented a substantial donation amounting to $330,676 to the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati (DSAGC) during an on-field ceremony prior to a Cincinnati Reds game. This funding was raised through initiatives that encouraged guests to round up their purchase totals, with a portion matched by the brand itself.

With this latest contribution, Penn Station's cumulative donations to Down Syndrome organizations have surpassed $2 million since the inception of their fundraising efforts. Throughout October, participating locations nationwide contributed to the Deals for Down Syndrome campaign by selling $5 booklets, with all proceeds benefitting local Down Syndrome associations. This exemplifies Penn Station’s dedication to making a difference in the communities it serves.

As the brand looks to the year ahead, its primary focus remains on building further expansion and innovation while improving the customer experience based on the successful trajectory established in 2025.

About Penn Station East Coast Subs

Founded in 1985 by Jeff Osterfeld, Penn Station East Coast Subs continues to be hailed for its award-winning grilled hot and classic cold subs. Proudly headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, the franchise operates over 320 locations across the United States and is renowned as a community staple. As it eyes further expansion into states like North and South Carolina and Michigan, Penn Station remains steadfast as one of the nation’s fastest-growing franchise systems. For more information about Penn Station East Coast Subs, visit www.penn-station.com.