Ike’s Love & Sandwiches opened Wednesday, June 1 at 1356 Fitzgerald Dr, Pinole in the Pinole Vista Crossing Shopping Mall.
Founder Ike Shehadeh will hold and attend a grand opening event on June 14 with free sandwiches and t-shirts for the first 50 people in line when the eatery opens at 10 a.m. All day long, Ike’s rewards members get $6 sandwiches and a chance to meet and take a selfie with Ike.
Shehadeh, who grew up in the Bay Area, called it “surreal” to open his popular sandwich chain in Pinole, where he said he used to visit to see good friends as a youth.
He said he created “a brand-new sauce and some extra special sandwiches” just for the Pinole location, including the “Hey Bernardo” created by Ike himself. The sandwich is filled with all-beef meatballs, Ike’s Perky Pesto and gouda cheese. There is also a vegan version of the “Hey Bernardo.”
CEO Michael Goldberg adds, “Our grand opening days are always a great party. People come out to meet Ike and be the first to try the new sandwiches made as a tribute to their hometown.”
Ike’s launched in 2007 as a small sandwich shop under the name “Ike’s Place” in San Francisco. It has since expanded across California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, and Colorado, inching closer to 100 locations.