SUB SHOP MOVES, BUSINESS BRISK

SUB CONSTRUCTION: Sub Shop employees Veronica Nunez, foreground, and Shelly Hopson build a sandwich at the restaurant's new location. (Observer photos/LAURA MACKIE-HANCOCK).

By Ray Linker

Observer staff writer

The Sub Shop, which was booted out of its old location across the street from where the new La Grande City Library will be built, has found a new home down the street.

Betty and Dan Baker are doing a brisk business at their new location, 1903 Fourth St., the former home of Figaro's Pizza at the corner of Fourth Street and Washington Avenue. Figaro's went out of business a few months ago.

Dan and Betty Baker had to be out of their former location at 2003 Fourth, between Adams Avenue and Jefferson Avenue, by Dec. 31 after the city put the property up for bids in August.

The Bakers had rented the building next to Max Square for five years, but were outbid by Sandy Sorrels of Mamacita's, who agreed in September to pay $105,000 for the property. The Bakers, who bid $98,000, were the only other bidders after the city declared the property excess. Sorrels closed Mamacita's on Depot Street in December and will reopen at the old Sub Shop location in the spring.

The Bakers closed the doors at the old location Dec. 28 and opened at the new site Jan 6.

"We're really busy," Betty Baker said about relocating the Sub Shop.

"And everybody who comes in is happy we've found a new spot. We're surprised that with the move we didn't have a slump in business."

She said the new location will seat 36 at nine tables,"the same as we had at the old location, and we plan to add a couple more tables."

They did not get the keys to the new location until Dec. 11 and did little renovation before opening.

"We had to buy the equipment to get the building," she said.

The equipment included pizza ovens, which the Bakers removed temporarily. They plan to re-install them and have representative from pizza companies come in and help them develop a pizza they will serve.

"Otherwise, our menu is the same as it was at the old store: sandwiches, soup, ice cream. ..."

Hours will be 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. for now, but that could change when pizza is added to the menu.

They have the same number of employees — seven — as they had previously. And the same phone number: 963-0917.