Locals purchase Volga Subway franchise

VOLGA — New — and local — ownership is coming to the only national chain spot in Volga.
Area hospitality veterans Karl Larsen and Shane Andersen have purchased the sandwich spot in town, as well as four more Subway franchises — in Vermillion, Parkston and a pair in Mitchell.

Larsen, a longtime Subway veteran who also owns four franchises in Iowa, and Andersen, a local realtor who got his start in the food industry in Brookings at Hardee’s in the early 1990s, are excited to take over the sandwich spot after closing on the sale last week.

“Subway is a long standing franchise, and at least in terms of locations, it’s the number one sandwich chain in the United States,” Larsen said. “But I think for us, we’re excited to grow with it being a local presence. We want to really make it be what a local sandwich shop can be for people, connecting the community.”

Andersen stressed that folks can expect to see him working in the store and trying to establish a new presence in town.

“We’re already looking for ways we can do some fundraising and some giving back type of thing to really show that Subway can be that,” Larsen said. Because I guess a big thing for me is, is getting across — we’re local, they’re local owned stores. I think a lot of people still assume Subways, like, oh, that’s just a corporate Subway franchise business.”

Andersen echoed those thoughts.

“I think for me, I’m just excited to be kind of part of of Karl’s growth here, and getting back a little bit into my my roots with with in the food industry,” he said. “In some capacity, it’s a different, way to connect with the community versus my real estate side here now, but it’s kind of the same as well, if that makes sense. So, yeah, just I was honored and felt privileged to be included in this and excited to see where we can make it grow.”

The pair plan a grand re-opening on Wednesday, May 27 for the Volga store, which is located on Kasan Avenue just a block off U.S. HWY 14.

Linehan is the Beacon’s managing editor and welcomes story tips and comments to BrookingsBeacon@@gmail.com