Robert Peplowski, owner of Peppo's Great Sub Sandwiches, cuts the ribbon to mark the grand opening in Orland Park on Oct. 23. He was joined by family, work associates, and members of the Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce. Located just behind Robert Peplowski is his father, Jim Peplowski, the founder of Peppo's. (Photos by Joe Boyle)
Peppo’s subs stays true to family roots with new Orland Park shop
Robert Peplowski believes that a great sub sandwich can be enjoyed everywhere in the southwest suburbs. And why not in Orland Park?
Peplowski felt it was time to do just that, opening the newest Peppo’s Great Sub Sandwiches at 9836 W. 159th St., at the corner of 94th Avenue, near the Orland Park Mall.
The Oct. 23 grand opening culminated with a ribbon-cutting with the Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce.
Robert Peplowski believes the Orland Park location will also be a success.
“Absolutely, of course,” Peplowski said. “It’s a family business, and that is what is most important; the people you work with.”
Family plays a major role in the business, with many relatives and longtime associates involved. Peplowski said what has made Peppo’s a success in Palos Hills will be duplicated in Orland Park.
“It’s going to be good here. We have had a lot of people come in since we opened two weeks ago,” he said. “We aren’t going to change anything. Why change what works?”
Customers familiar with the Palos Hills location will see familiar faces in Orland Park.
Jim Peplowski, who still helps out in Palos Hills, was present for the grand opening and plans to make occasional visits to the new Peppo’s as well.
“The employees we have here were trained for a couple of weeks in Palos Hills,” Robert Peplowski said. “And they will bring that training and experience out here.”
The Peplowskis tout their subs as the best, and the slogan, “No Guts … No Glory,” is featured along the walls of the new restaurant. The slogan refers to the sandwich toppings, or “guts,” such as tomatoes, pickles, onions, seasoning, and dressing.
Subs range from five to 11 inches, with options like ham, salami, roast beef, and turkey, along with cheeses including Swiss, Monterey Jack, cheddar, provolone, and American. The Orland Park location offers not only the original sub menu but also Italian beef, meatball sandwiches, and the New Yorker, featuring corned beef, pastrami, and Swiss cheese.
Other menu options include the Windy City cheesesteak, fresh salads such as Peppo’s Original “Guts” Salad, a garden salad, chef’s salad, antipasto, and chicken bacon ranch salad. A kids’ menu is available, along with sides like pasta salad, soup, and chili.
Randy Barcella, director of the Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce, is among its longtime fans.
“Yes, this is great,” Barcella said. “And I like that they are open every day early at 10 a.m. We want to welcome you to our village. I have been coming to Peppo’s for over 40 years and have always enjoyed the subs. We can’t have enough family businesses, and everything is fresh here.”
The Orland Park Peppo’s is open every day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
“We expect to see a lot of people come by in the next week,” Robert Peplowski said. “We have had a lot of people already come by. We just want to make this somewhere people want to come to. And we will do it by giving them the best we can offer.”
Peplowski said he Peppo’s has plans for future franchises in Bedford Park and New Lenox.
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