O'brien's Irish Sandwich Bar Debuts In Chicago

(Monday, December 06, 1999) - O'Brien's Irish Sandwich Bars, a 60-unit quick-service chain based in Dublin, Ireland, is test marketing its first licensed United States branch in a refurbished strip mall in this thriving Chicago suburb.

Franchising veteran Jerrold Radu, vice president of O'Brien's Irish Sandwich Bars U.S. Inc., the chain's Chicago-based development arm for North America, said he is preparing to open a second, larger unit in downtown Chicago before the end of the year. That site will be a "high street" location, which Radu explained was an Irish term for an urban spot with a lot of foot traffic.

O'Brien's is a simple concept that requires little cooking equipment, other than a soup pot, espresso machine and microwave. Menu items are breakfast and lunch sandwiches, wrap-style sandwiches called "wrappos," salads, soups, gourmet coffees and soft drinks. Outside purveyors bake the thick Irish breads and pastries, including scones, muffins, Dannish sweet rolls, brownies and cookies. In addition to those items, the photos of Irish scenes on the Schaumburg shop's walls speak of its Irish connection.

Checks average about $5 per person. Radu declined to project sales figures.

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