Austin Whetsel, Jersey Mike’s Subs franchisee, speaks to a group gathered at his newest location in Glasgow’s Barren River Plaza just before a ribbon cutting held Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022.
(BRENNAN CRAIN/WCLU NEWS)
BY BRENNAN D. CRAIN, WCLU News
GLASGOW — Business is far from slow at Barren River Plaza along Rogers Wells Boulevard.
Along with business partners Hunter and Amy Vann, Larry and Charlotte Glass have spent nearly three years developing a strip of properties there. The shopping center is home to four businesses – Marshalls, Five Below, T-Mobile and now, Jersey Mike’s Subs.
“The last 14 to 15 months have really been a big difference out here as far as tenants and stuff,” Hunter said. “It’s a big turnaround from the corona-days.”
Austin Whetsel owns six Jersey Mike’s locations and operates 70 others across 10 states. He was in Glasgow Wednesday morning alongside community members and employees to celebrate the opening of his seventh franchise. A ribbon cutting was held just outside the store.
While on his way from Louisville to Nashville, Whetsel stopped in Glasgow and noticed friendly people, he said. It wasn’t long after that he connected with Glass and toured the location now bearing his company’s name.
“It was pretty seamless, and the city of Glasgow has been wonderful during the whole process,” he said.
Glass started developing local properties about 30 years ago. He noticed one thing – Glasgow needed more “options.” At least that’s what people in the community were telling him.
Marshalls was the first store Glass wanted to lure to his shopping center. He said as the “big fish in the retail world,” the company has served as a greenlight to other recent developments. In fact, three other stores now located in the shopping center were not interested in locating to Glasgow without the promise of Marshalls.
“Really, it was just trying to create a shopping environment that we did not have in Glasgow,” Glass said. “And we have not had the shopping experience in Glasgow that we now have in this shopping center.”
Marshalls opened Aug. 25 and reported it was the “biggest opening day in Kentucky history.”
Customers started pouring through the door at Jersey Mike’s Wednesday just after they opened at 10 a.m. Whetsel said he’s hopeful about business in Barren County.
“I expect this to be the busiest store in Kentucky. I expect this to be the busiest grand opening in Kentucky,” Whetsel said. “I’m basing that off my observations of the demands for sandwiches in this town but also the reception we’ve gotten.”
Vann and Glass said the best is yet to come at the property adjacent to the T.J. Health Pavilion. Additional businesses are being sought since space is still available in the shopping center.
“We’re talking to three different companies right now about locating in Glasgow,” Glass said. “It’s kind of got to the point out here we can pick and choose what we want. We’re trying to get a variety of things Glasgow doesn’t have.”
