Goodcents Deli Fresh Subs will open its first Ohio restaurant at 10 a.m. Friday in West Chester. The restaurant, which will be open regularly from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Sunday, is located at 9216 Allen Road in the former Tazza Mia Café off Union Centre Boulevard.
The sub chain, which has 96 locations in nine states, prides itself on its freshly baked bread, sliced-to-order meats, healthy food options and inexpensive catering.
Along with sandwiches, wraps, salads and soups, Goodcents also features a Coca-Cola Freestyle system that offers more than 100 choices of soft drinks and juices.
The chain is also currently re-branding itself from Mr. Goodcents Subs and Pasta. The changes include the addition of wraps and a drive thru, as well as the elimination of pasta.
Spearheading the transition, Goodcents CEO David Goebel was in Cincinnati Thursday helping with the opening and scouting other potential restaurant locations.
“We are going under construction right now with multi-unit agreements in Phoenix, Arkansas, St. Louis and here. I would lying if I didn’t tell you this one is the nearest and dearest to my heart because it is my home,” said Goebel, who works out of the corporate offices near Kansas City, Kan., but grew up in Price Hill and attended Elder High School.
Goebel, who oversaw the opening of 800 restaurants as the former CEO of Applebee’s, sees his hometown as a potential 35-to-40 store market for Goodcents.
The owner and operator of the West Chester location, Dave Scholten, is actually Goebel’s nephew and worked at Receptions Banquet & Conference Centers since 1992. He started as a dishwasher in high school and advanced onto vice president and minority owner.
“I did shop quite a few different franchises,” said Scholten, who resides in White Oak and attended La Salle High School. “Ultimately, I decided on the Goodcents concept. The freshness of the product drew me to it. I fell in love with the sandwiches … the new transition they are going through really excited me.”
Scholten, who signed on to own and operate three Goodcents in Greater Cincinnati, is actively seeking a location in Blue Ash. In addition, Scholten has also decided to donate 20 percent of the first week sales from his West Chester restaurant to The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty.
