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Courtesy Togo's Eateries
California-based sandwich shop Togo’s plans to open 10 to 15 new locations in Las Vegas starting next year.
By Conor Shine (contact) 
Saturday, July 28, 2012 | 2 a.m.
Sun coverage
The already-crowded Las Vegas sandwich scene is about to have a new competitor as West Coast staple Togo’s Eateries plans an expansion into the market early next year.
Founded in 1971 in a shack near San Jose State University, Togo’s has developed a cult following through the decades, thanks to its healthy portions and fresh ingredients, CEO Tony Gioia said.
“When you have a Togo’s sandwich, it actually looks like the picture on the menu board. It’s overflowing with meat,” Gioia said.
The company aims to build 10 to 15 locations in the Las Vegas area, Gioia said, and is interviewing franchisees and scouting locations in hopes of opening its first store early next year. Togo's previously operated a store on Lake Mead Boulevard and Buffalo Drive in the late 1990s when it was owned by a different parent company, but that location has since closed.
Most of Togo’s 245 stores are concentrated in California, but the company recently has been extending its reach into Oregon, Washington and Sparks.
“We love Las Vegas and want to be there. We think it’s a great opportunity in a growing market,” Gioia said. “Especially during an economic downturn, people want value. Our value is great service, a great store, great food and lots of it.”
Unlike many shops that use an assembly-line process when making sandwiches, Gioia said Togo’s sticks to a more traditional deli-style experience where one employee builds a customer’s sandwich from start to finish.
“Our sandwich-maker takes the time to handcraft the sandwich, made specially for you,” he said.
Togo’s menu covers all the sandwich shop staples, from roast beef and turkey to meatball and Italian subs. The menu also includes salads, wraps and soups.
The chain’s most popular sandwiches include the turkey and avocado, made with fresh mashed Hass avocados, and the pastrami, featuring meat made according to Togo’s special recipe, Gioia said.
Although many Las Vegans’ sandwich loyalties lie with local favorite Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop and its Thanksgiving-inspired Bobbie, Gioia said he’s confident residents would find Togo’s a tasty alternative.
“We have a lot of competitors, and there are other sandwiches that taste good,” he said. “But where’s the beef? When you have a Togo’s sandwich, you are satisfied big time. There’s no smoke and mirrors.”
togos already entered the vegas market 1st location summerlin buffalo and washington late 90's early 2000 they were open about 1 year maybe 2 and closed whomever wrote this story did not have correct facts
I used to eat here all the time in California and then they partnered with Baskin Robbins and the quality went down. I moved here and acrually missed them. I found a location they used to have on Lake Mead near Buffalo in Summerlin. I used to eat there all the time for lunch and then all of a sudden it closed. I loved this place and hope it goes back to before the Baskin Robins partnership.
I personally can't wait for them to have stores out here...I love them so much more than Capriotti's and Port o'Subs.
This is not the first time this chain has tried to penetrate this market. They had a store that failed quickly on West Lake Mead in Summerlin back in the late 1990s.
Comment removed by moderator. Off Topic
In 2001 we lived down the street from a Togo's in San Jose, CA. We ate there several times and it was good. I remember remarking to my wife about the freshness and the portion size of the product.
If they do come here, I'll try their "special recipe" pastrami...I'm "always" on the lookout for a good pastrami sandwich and, while I've found a few that I'd consider passable, most have been horrible.
Sounds just like Subway, ie healthy portions, fresh ingredients.
Used to eat at Togo's all of the time in So Cal. Looking forward to them opening up here. Egg salad & avocado was my fav!