Milford, Ohio — Penn Station East Coast Subs has debuted a new restaurant design. All future Penn Station locations will open with the new design and logo. Existing restaurants will update as their renovation schedule requires.
Overall, the new design is lighter and more streamlined, corresponding with Penn Station’s new logo, which debuted last year. The design elements were chosen for durability, cost effectiveness, function and aesthetics. As with everything Penn Station does, return on investment for franchisees was an important factor in choosing the new look.
“Penn Station is a 30-year-old brand, and we don’t update our restaurant design often, so this is especially exciting for us,” says Craig Dunaway, president. “The restaurant redesign was carefully considered, with cost to franchisees top of mind. Penn Station isn’t a brand that changes often, and this remodel is a perfect representation of where we are headed in the future.”
Highlights of the redesign include new wall coverings and flooring. The new gray paint brightens the space, but will still feel familiar to longtime Penn Station fans. Wood planking has been added to the bottom half of the walls in a brick pattern. On the floor, Penn Station has updated to a 12-by-18 gray concrete tile to go with the more streamlined design.
The open display kitchen has also been redesigned. Often, state restrictions have required increased counter height. It is important to Penn Station that customers can see their food being prepared fresh, but the higher counters were decreasing visibility into the open display kitchen. To ensure customers can observe as their food is made to order, the new design features an enhanced open display kitchen with lower counters and glass sneeze guards.
“In creating the new look, we made sure the open kitchen, which we were able to improve so that guests can easily watch as their fresh food is grilled, incorporated the new features,” adds Dunaway. “We chose products that are durable with a clean look. Just like our new logo, the restaurant design is polished and sleek while staying true to our original branding.”
Founded in Cincinnati in 1985, Penn Station has more than 300 locations in 15 states. All but one location is franchised; there have been only two store closings over the last 30 years.
Projections call for the opening of 20 restaurants nationwide in 2016. Penn Station is targeting Kansas City, Atlanta, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Richmond, Virginia and Dallas for franchise expansion. For more information, visit www.penn-station.com.
SOURCE: Penn Station East Coast Subs