Zero’s Subs closes, Penn Station East Coast Subs to open
Zero’s Subs at Valley View Station shopping center (across from Valley View Mall) closed last week, and a new sub shop is set to open there this spring.
Penn Station East Coast Subs is already working on readying the former Zero’s space (near IHOP) for a spring opening, said Paul Marotte, who owns the shopping center. The new sub shop took over Zero’s lease, he said.
The franchisees for Zero’s and Penn Station could not be reached last week.
Penn Station was started in Ohio in 1985 around the idea of creating an “East Coast sub” using fresh ingredients and preparing food in front of customers, according to the company’s website. There are about 220 franchises, according to the website, mostly in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, North Carolina and Tennessee. There are five franchises in Virginia, three in Richmond and two outside of Washington.
You can check out their menu here.
If you’ve been to a Penn Station East Coast sub shop, let us know what you thought of the food.
February 4, 2013 - 12:30 PM
Ate at Penn Station while in Cincinnati for several months. One of the best cheesesteak subs from a chain. Compares to New York Pizza’s cheesesteak. Overall, subs are HUGE improvement over Zero’s and much better than Subway or Quizno’s
YUMMY! Amazing lemonade, fries and the cookies! The sandwich is pretty darn good too! I’ll miss Zero’s, but I really do like PCS
Never been to a Penn Station but I really liked the steak and cheese at Zero’s and I’m sorry to see them go. Their prices seemed to increase a little more than other places and I never saw that place really packed because there are so many places to eat at V.V.
Awesome. Very happy to have a Penn Station coming to the area! I’d personally prefer a Jersey Mikes, but both are excellent. Very good cheesesteaks and chicken cheesesteaks. Penn Station’s fries are also very good.
Hey Amanda.
Any word on what Thalhimer is doing with Tanglewood since taking over as leasing management? They have had it for almost a year now and it is still more then 3/4′s empty. They have been able to do nothing with it. Does not any one share my opion on what a shame it is that it can get filled! I think that it should be wrecked down and built as a town center leaving the outer stores in tact? Does anyone know what can be done to get it filled!!
Have you heard if someone will be opening up a restaurant at the former location of Back Creek Grill on Route 221? It was sold at auction several months ago.
So excited to hear this! I haven’t had Penn Station since we moved here from Richmond three years ago. Try it – you won’t be disappointed. Plus, it will be nice to have something new that’s not a burger place that seem to be popping up all over town.
Amanda’
A new restaurant has opened up on Plantation Road called City Corner 2. They are advertising Thai cuisine. Any info? Thanks.
@JTH: I believe there is a restaurant opening there. Food writer Lindsey Nair was following that, and she is out of the office this week. I will try to get back to you on that upon her return.
@Chris: Tanglewood and Thalhimer won’t publicly announce any new leases until they are finalized. I just spoke with both Tanglewood and Thalhimer in the past few weeks, and they didn’t have anything for me to report.
@Art: Food writer Lindsey Nair wrote about City Corner 2 on her blog last week. It’s a second location for the City Corner at the intersection of Jefferson Street and Campbell Avenue in downtown Roanoke. Here is a link to Lindsey’s blog: http://blogs.roanoke.com/fridgemagnet/2012/09/coming-soon-city-corner-2/
A great new spot is open in Salem called Abrakebabra. It does a GREAT gyro and falafel. It’s on Apperson next to Hammerhead Hardware. Give it a try. Also, my other food find is the Mediterranean Grill at 3324 Williamson.
@Steve: Thanks!
Any insight on SoRo Grill in Piccadilly on Franklin? By there on Thursday & was dark, no activity.
Word on the street is The Fresh Market is accepting EBT and SNAP starting tomorrow! About time too.
ALSO, there’s a great new restaurant in Blacksburg in the former Quiznos location at the University Mall — Marco & Luca Dumplings. I just stopped by at lunch. Small, but delicious menu.
Homemade fried dumplings (6 for $3) that were the best I’ve ever eaten. Amazing. They also have a pair of cold noodle dishes, and a pair of Hot Steamed Roll dishes (the roll stuffed with homemade BBQ was sold out today). Nothing on the menu for more than $4. I can’t wait to go back for more dumplings!
@Steve: They closed. Click here to see Lindsey Nair’s blog post from January.
@interested party: I just put in a call to Fresh Market’s public relations team. Hope to hear back and have more info.
@RP: Burgs reporter Mike Shaw wrote about Marco & Luca recently — take a look at his story here. The company also has three locations in Charlottesville, he reports.
Me and the Mrs. ate at City Corner2 this evening. The food is very good, but the host?/waiter?/server? is clueless as to what he is doing.
We had the pleasure of eating at City Corner 2 on Saturday and thoroughly enjoyed the visit. Food was fantastic. Prices are very reasonable. We had two orders of dim sum (loved the chicken feet),laarb gai (chicken salad),two entrees and drinks all for $34.00. The staff is very friendly and attentive. Food wise, it is one of the truer Thai experiences to be found in the valley, The offerings aren’t all sweet and “wet”.
@s.m.armstrong: Did you say chicken feet?!? Believe it or not, that’s something my Italian grandmother cooks up, when she can find them. She wouldn’t believe me if I told her a restaurant is serving them!
GREAT subs. Offer a really good variety. Any of their Italian sandwiches are terrific – and their cheesesteaks are better than anything else the Roanoke Valley has to offer. Good stuff.
Glad to hear about the positive reviews of City Corner 2. It’s close to my house and I’m excited to have another option for takeout or a quick meal close to home.
So, had lunch at Chaba Thai today. Went at 1130 (they open at 11). Walk in, place was dark, no bell rung so we stood there probably 5 minutes in the dark before someone told us to sit anywhere. Fortunately we were in a window seat so we could read the menu. Indifferent service, indifferent food. I’m not sure what happened here, but when it closes, it won’t be the economy that did it.
Amanda, one of the vendors on the market sells chicken feet. I think they are sold in 3 lbs tubs. I could be wrong. I can’t remember the name of the vendor, just that they sell pork and chicken from their farm. I love chicken feet more than chicken wings. They are a little more work, but worth it. They are offered as dim sum at City Corner 2. We are going back this weekend for more.