When a young college student started a sandwich shop around the corner from San Jose State University in the early 1970s, he had a simple recipe: fresh ingredients piled high atop fresh-baked bread for a price even college students would find appealing. His idea proved popular and, as the company rounds the corner on 40 years in the business, Togo’s chairman and CEO Tony Gioia is ready to launch an ambitious brand update that leverages Togo’s history as a West Coast original.
On June 19, Togo’s will join its newest franchisee, Valencia-based businessman Robert Dorian, to open the first new prototype restaurant at 28166 Newhall Ranch Road. The restaurant features classic reminders of the chain’s roots and delivers on the quality sandwich experience that fans of Togo’s already enjoy. It’s representative of a system-wide brand refresh occurring over the summer of 2010, and it’s just the beginning.
Dorian is the company’s 168th active franchisee, opening the 240th restaurant in the system in a time when many are surprised to see businesses hiring, much less opening anew. “My wife Nadeen and I are raising our daughters here in Valencia and have always been Togo’s fans on the customer side of the counter,†he says. “But once I saw what Togo’s had to offer its franchisees, I knew I wanted to be a part of it — and that the time was now.â€
