Local Subway Sub Shop Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Deb Spalding Few readers are unfamiliar with the Subway sub. Subway’s menu is easy to grasp and the process of creating each sub is custom, as each customer picks every part of the sub, from the bread to the meat, veggies, and condiments. Always yummy, Subway has improved the quality of their products one by one over the past few years in keeping with nutritional trends, as well as introducing new limited-time special flavor sub and salad options. There’s always something new at Subway, along with the option to build it your way. “We have the biggest menu anywhere and great prices, but people are the most important part of our business,” expressed owner, Dean Biller. He shared that his customers are great and his staff members are like members of his family. His family that also includes his eleven-year-old daughter, who he claims rocks his world. “I have really good managers and staff who I value greatly. Happy crew means happy customers.” Dean also operates a recording studio and plays bass in the band, Beyond Empty. They’ve played at the Ott House a few times. Emmitsburg Subway’s assistant manager, Ashley Maccabee, is a drummer in the band, as well as a drum instructor at the Let There Be Rock School in Frederick, Maryland. Beyond Empty plays a variety of music, ranging from Led Zeppelin to the Stone Temple Pilots. Dean’s Subway adventure began when he, who resides in Westminster, Maryland, had his eyes open for a business opportunity. Formerly a Ford mechanic, Dean had been in food service since 1981, while working for Kraft. Dean and his wife and business partner, Lyn, noticed a Subway store for sale in Emmitsburg in late 2001, and, liking the franchise, decided to purchase the store soon after, in 2002. Emmitsburg Subway was previouly owned and operated by Terry Gladhill and her business partner Linda. They opened the store in 1997. Soon after taking over in Emmitsburg, the Billers planned a sister store in Thurmont. That location opened in 2005. About their Subway business venture, Dean said, “It’s been fun…it’s been challenging.” Subway also caters. At the time of this interview, Dean and his team had just delivered four hundred subs for an event. “My focus is on the people and the value.” Online, at subway.com, applications for employment and remote ordering can be found. The Emmitsburg and Thurmont Subway stores are open Mondays through Thursdays, 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.; Fridays, 7:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.; Saturdays, 8:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.; and Sundays, 9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. The Emmitsburg Subway is located at 101 Silo Hill Road in the Silo Hill Shopping Strip; the Thurmont Subway is located at 224 North Church Street in the Thurmont Plaza Shopping Center. Dean can be contacted directly by emailing [email protected], and he invites you to stop in for a sub. See their spring specials in their advertisement on page 42. Emmitsburg Subway staff members pictured from left are Kim Ruby, Josh Cornish, Dean Biller (owner), and Ashley Maccabee.