Dorothy Westerman
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 14/04) - Does Yellowknife need another Subway location? Brad Anstey, owner of the downtown sub shop, says there is no doubt about it.

New Subway location owner Brad Anstey and son Ethan, 2, stand in the new sub shop, located in Stanton Plaza on Old Airport Road. - Dorothy Westerman/NNSL photo

"We have two markets in Yellowknife. One is downtown and the other is the Frame Lake area," Anstey said.

As a result of more than one year of searching for just the right spot, Anstey said he will open Subway's second location in Stanton Plaza in May.

"It was difficult to find the right location," he noted. "But it's a high traffic area and near a major intersection," he said of the 1,500 sq ft restaurant, situated next to Wolverine Sports.

And Anstey said while customers will taste the same familiar, fresh product, a new Tuscany-inspired decor will greet customers.

"It will be an energetic, yet relaxing atmosphere," he said of the interior, which will feature brown, green and red tones.

As the downtown location on the corner of 50th Street and 51st Ave. has reached its maximum service levels, Anstey said it was a wise business decision to build instead of renovate.

"Yellowknife is growing. There is a great potential for us and a positive future."

That does not mean the project was an easy task, however.

"It's a big challenge in the North to find contractors willing to take on the job.

"Labour is difficult to find and it's costly. We also have to pay higher wages for staff to stay," Anstey said.

While a new Quiznos sub shop opened across the street on Old Airport Road, Anstey said he does not consider the two restaurants competitors.

"We're in a league of our own, and Quiznos knew we had plans to expand," he said.

The new store will hire six full-time and six part-time employees, and will have a seating capacity of approximately 36.