One of the co-owner’s of the new Jersey Mike’s in Delafield has a great problem: She’d rather be busy than bored. Her name is Kaitlyn, and she is an unstoppable go-getter, wife, mother, and businesswoman. She is one of the owners of Delafield’s first ever Jersey Mike’s location, which is set to hold its grand opening on June 11. The store will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., serving the restaurant chain’s iconic sandwiches. Kaitlyn and her husband are already co-owners of two other Jersey Mike’s locations in Brookfield and Johnson Creek, but their new adventure into Delafield has opened up unparalleled opportunities for them.
Kaitlyn and her husband are originally from an area just outside of Davenport, Iowa. Two years ago, they were given the opportunity to become partial owners of the already-established Jersey Mike’s in Brookfield. Within a few months, the two packed up and moved to Wisconsin to help take over the business. Kaitlyn was grateful to discover a kind, receptive customer base that allowed for her love of the business to grow. “I don’t want to just sell someone a sandwich and they come here and then they leave,” she said. “I want people to come in and we get the chance to really know them.”
Her relationship-focused entrepreneurial style allowed her and her husband to open a brand new Jersey Mike’s location in Johnson Creek last October. As they sought out well-established markets and tightly knit communities that they can grow with, they decided to open their next location in Delafield. Kaitlyn is extremely involved in the store’s opening. This third location will allow many of her long-time employees the chance to take on more prominent leadership roles.
Kaitlyn and her family have discovered a true passion for the Lake Country area during the business’s development. “We’ve been exploring the area, and we just love it,” she says. “Everyone is so kind and genuine. I’m taken aback by the number of nice responses we’ve gotten online about the store’s opening.”
Jersey Mike’s is a lot more than just a restaurant, though. Kaitlyn has a background in social work, and those past experiences aligned with Jersey Mike’s culture of giving. The company does a lot of local and national fundraising. At the two other locations she co-owns, the store has great relationships with the area school districts. The Delafield location will also take on the spirit of charity so essential to both Jersey Mike’s and Kaitlyn. During the store’s grand opening, they will be partnering with ‘Gals on the Go Project‘, a Delafield-based charity that offers confidence building resources for children. A donation to Gals on the Go will allow patrons to receive a coupon for a free sandwich, which Kaitlyn describes as “A way to make an impact on our community.”
As the store’s June opening approaches, Delafield eagerly awaits a new business that will be so much more than the average restaurant. “There’s a lot more to it than just ‘fast food’- the atmosphere of kindness is what we push for,” says Kaitlyn.
