Penn Station (restaurant) facts for kids
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Penn Station location in Springboro, Ohio
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| Private Corporation | |
| Industry | Food |
| Founded | 1985 in Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Founder | Jeff Osterfeld |
| Headquarters | Cincinnati, Ohio |
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Area served
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United States |
| Products | Sandwiches |
| Subsidiaries | Planet Sub |
Penn Station is a popular chain of restaurants. They are famous for their "East Coast" style subs. The very first Penn Station restaurant opened in 1985. It was started by Jeff Osterfeld in Cincinnati, Ohio. Today, you can find over 300 Penn Station restaurants in 15 different states across the United States.
Contents
The Story of Penn Station Restaurants
How the Idea Started
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The idea for Penn Station restaurants came from a man named Jeff Osterfeld. He got the idea soon after finishing college. In 1983, he opened his first restaurant. It was called "Jeffrey's Delicatessen" and was located in Dayton, Ohio.
Discovering the Cheesesteak
During a trip to Philadelphia, Jeff saw how popular the cheesesteak sandwich was. He decided to try selling a similar sandwich at his own deli. This new sandwich became a huge hit right away! People loved it.
Opening the First Penn Station
Because the cheesesteak was so popular, Jeff decided to open a new restaurant. In 1985, he opened the first Penn Station in Cincinnati. At first, this restaurant only sold four types of sandwiches. One of them was the famous cheesesteak.
But this first Penn Station also offered something special. They sold fresh-cut french fries and freshly squeezed lemonade. These two items became very important to the Penn Station brand. They are still popular today!
Growing Across the Midwest
By 1987, Jeff Osterfeld had opened several Penn Station restaurants. They were all in or near Cincinnati. That same year, he started selling "franchises." This means other people could open their own Penn Station restaurants.
Soon, new Penn Station locations opened in other cities. These included St. Louis, Louisville, and Nashville. As of June 2021, Penn Station has grown a lot. There are now 306 restaurants open in 15 states. Most of these are in the Midwest region of the United States.
