Timbeses Open First Of Seven Lenny’s

While the broader economy struggles through a recession, Karen and Michael Timbes are putting their money to work in Northwest Arkansas.

The couple opened the first of seven planned Lenny’s Sub Shops on Dec. 4 at the Shoppes at Steele Crossing near the Northwest Arkansas Mall.

The Timbeses, along with their son Kyle who will manage the first restaurant, also took the step of insisting to Memphis-based Lenny’s corporate office that they be allowed to use only local contractors for the build-outs.

The couple did use a Lenny’s project manager based in Dallas, but SSI Inc. of Tontitown did the finish-out at the Fayetteville location using local subcontractors.

Lenny’s has 175 locations in 21 states, and a prior Fayetteville location on Dickson Street closed not because of poor sales but because it was a corporate-owned store and operations were difficult to control from Memphis.

Lenny’s offers a hoard of hefty sandwiches, with freshly baked bread and cuts of meat and cheese, and its signature meal is a beefy, authentic Philly Cheesesteak.

According to the Lenny’s Web site, franchisees are required to have at least $150,000 in cash resources and a net worth of at least $500,000. Royalty payments are 8 percent of net sales.

The Timbeses said they are still deciding on which area to make their next move into, but are exploring the Sixth Street area in Fayetteville to reach the college and high school student crowds as well as the robust lunch market in Benton County’s “Vendorville.”