Hip, Modern Subway Store Coming to Arlington Heights

Arlington Heights’ 10^th Subway Store will feature a stylish, Metro design and will be one of a kind in the northwest suburbs.

Franchise owner Tim Ryan plans to open a new Subway at 333 S. Arlington Heights Road in a vacant building that use to be a 7-Eleven.

“I’m really excited about taking over a former 7-Eleven as it has been vacant for a period of time,” Ryan said. “I am willing to put in an investment in the building so it fits in better with the area.”

Subway has been introducing a more contemporary design, called Metro décor, as new stores open, said Ryan, a Palatine resident who owns six franchises. The idea is to provide a store similar to competitors like Corner Bakery Cafe, he said.

The Arlington Heights store will feature the decor including a stone wall, tasteful color schemes, contemporary furniture like upholstered chairs and wall graphics. Ryan plans to bring the color scheme to the outside façade.

Limited parking and competition were two minor issues the village faced in granting Ryan’s request to open the store. The building has 27 parking spaces, less than the required spaces for a store its size, but Ryan has reached an agreement with a neighboring business for to use its parking spaces.

While the new Subway will be closer to two existing stores, those franchise owners had no objection chiefly because Ryan’s store will not draw customers away. A marketing study showed Ryan’s store will appeal to people living in downtown apartments, people catching the Metra and people visiting downtown, according to village documents.

The railroad tracks will create a physical barrier between the existing Subway stores, staff said.

Village trustees approved Ryan’s plans this week and welcomed him to the village. Ryan is ready to obtain his building permits and start construction soon. He hopes to be open by summer.