On the heels of its opening in Queen Creek earlier this week, Ike’s Love and Sandwiches, will kick off 2023 with three new Valley outposts including one in Desert Ridge Corporate Center, located at 20940 N Tatum Blvd, that’s slated to open in February, followed by 1335 S Alma School Rd in Mesa around the end of March and 3765 S Gilbert Rd shortly thereafter, according to Ike’s vice president of real estate and development, Adam Rinella.
“Phoenix is really becoming a second home for us outside of California,” Rinella tells What Now Phoenix. “It’s where we’re most focused on opening stores right now, and our founder, Ike [Shehadeh], is out there monthly, at least. He goes to the First Fridays in Downtown Phoenix every single month, so he loves it there and the community’s really responded to us, so we really enjoy being in that market.”
Ike’s Love and Sandwiches was founded originally founded as Ike’s Place in 2007 in San Francisco, and quickly made a name for itself throughout California thanks to its inclusive offerings that satiate the palates of omnivores, herbivores, and everyone in between, not to mention the company’s signature Dutch Crunch bread and secret “Dirty Sauce.”
What’s more, each location – which can currently be found in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah – features a number of “exclusive sandwiche offerings that are eclectically named as a tribute to local celebrities and icons,” as well as a number of award-winning choices – Best Sandwich in the World courtesy of Shehadeh’s mom, notwithstanding – such as two named for former San Francisco Giants pitchers, Madison Bumgarner and Matt Cain.
True to its name though, “Love comes before sandwiches at Ike’s,” Shehadeh writes on the company’s website, “and we are in the love, respect, and appreciation business.”
