Located along Hilltop Drive, one of the busiest corridors in Redding, Subarama sandwich shop can sometimes feel like it’s off the beaten path.
That has persuaded the owners of the longtime business to move to what they think is a more accessible location that they hope will bring in more new customers.
Later this summer, Subarama will move to the former Lucky Miller’s Deli space on Athens Avenue in the Cypress Square shopping center near Redding City Hall.
“We are very much tucked away where we are. The number one thing I hear from customers is, ‘Love your food so much, but I forget you exist.’ So, drawing people to us is one of the hardest things, just because we are so tucked away,” said Emily Hawk, who owns Subarama with Donna Vidal and Nickie Stevens.
Subarama has been across the street from Cascade Station for more than two decades. The sandwich shop has seen a lot of changes come to the area, from the closure of Kmart to a rebrand of the shopping center, which features longtime tenant Ross Dress For Less, and new additions Liquor Barn, Crush Fitness, Burlington and Tractor Supply Co.
“The center and everything being full has helped. But we just feel (business) is kind of capped of what we will do unless we are a little more visible,” Hawk said.
Lucky Miller’s closed in early 2024 after being at 2495 Athens Ave. in Cypress Square for three years. Before Lucky Miller’s, the space was home to a Subway sandwich shop.
Hawk said Cypress Square is more centrally located than where they’re at now. She also likes that it’s closer to downtown and Redding’s west side.
“DoorDash (deliveries go by) miles radius and that kind of puts us right in the middle between the east side and like downtown to where it opens us up to be able to deliver to that whole west side of town,” she said of the new location.
They hope to open on Athens Avenue by July 1, but they have run into some delays.
“So that is the goal right now, but we will be moved in by the end of July for sure because that is when our lease is up here,” Hawk said.
Subarama to get second Redding location
Not only are Hawk and company on the move this summer, but they will also open a second location.
Subarama will open a kiosk inside the new Val-U-MART in Westwood Village in south Redding. The kiosk is scheduled to open July 1.
Val-U MART, a locally owned grocery store, opened in the shopping center, inside the former Rite-Aid space, in February.
“I was approached by the owners,” Hawk said. “We want to partner with a local deli so we will have a little kiosk in there.”
The kiosk menu will be a smaller version of Subarama’s regular menu.
“It will be a mix of cold subs and paninis instead of hot sandwiches,” Hawk said.
Both Subarama’s Athens Avenue location and Val-U-MART kiosk will be open seven days a week.
Mexican restaurant in Redding on the move
Opened in 2021 on Churn Creek Road, Super Burrito’s is moving.
The new storefront sign announcing the new location is up at the strip mall at the corner Cypress and Victor avenues in east Redding. The Mexican restaurant’s new spot was formerly Rustic Table Asian Kitchen, which closed after being there for about five years.
No word on when the new location will open and Super Burrito’s is still open on Churn Creek Road next to Chicken Shack.
I left my contact information at the restaurant, but have yet to hear back from the owners.
Stay tuned.
David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly “Buzz on the Street” column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Redding sandwich shop reveals plan to be seen. Mexican eatery moving
Reporting by David Benda, Redding Record Searchlight / Redding Record Searchlight
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