Sandwich Express relocates Townsville store from Sunland Plaza to Cannon Park

With Sunland Plaza being converted to a massive pub, popular business Sandwich Express needed to find a new home quickly. Find out where they landed.

Sandwich Express franchise owner David Maley with Colliers executive Shaun McLaren at the new Cannon Park location. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Providing a healthy option for busy families and hungry tradies to defeat hunger, Sandwich Express has landed on its feet in a new location after an urgent move out of Sunland Plaza.

A former-tradie based in Western Australia, David Maley downed his tools 15 years ago to join his sister’s Townsville franchise Sandwich Express, operating a popular store in the Thuringowa Central shopping centre for the past 14 years.

He said the secret to Sandwich Express’ success was very simple.

“You can’t go and get a ham and cheese sandwich anymore. We’ve got a wide variety of stuff, from the basic $5 sandwich to the fancy $25 sandwich,” Mr Maley said.

“(We get) mums and dads coming in the morning with their kids on the way to school and forget to pack a lunch.

Colliers executive Shaun McLaren with Sandwich Express franchise owner David Maley at the new Cannon Park location. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“They come in and buy breakfasts, they buy a bacon egg roll and they can buy lunch at the same time, so it’s sort of a one-stop shop for a lot of guys and that’s why they like it.”

He was forced to relocate “in a hurry” following the sale of Sunland Plaza to the Star hotel and liquor group, who will convert it into one of the biggest pubs in Townsville.

With the help of Colliers executive Shaun McLaren, Mr Maley secured a same-sized commercial premises just 200m down the road at Cannon Park, where he signed a 10 year lease and quickly refitted the space.

The shell at 15/52 Hervey Range Road has been converted into a new Sandwich Express store. Picture: Colliers.

Since throwing open his doors at 15/52 Hervey Range Road on July 4, Mr Maley has been delighted to see the familiar faces of loyal customers follow him across to the new shop, bolstered by the busy High Range Rd and increased foot traffic – largely driven by the neighbouring Department of Main Roads office.

Sandwich Express franchise owner David Maley with Colliers executive Shaun McLaren in a prime Cannon Park location. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“It’s very surprising, people are very loyal. We’ve had a lot of people come back and say ‘thank god you’re opening, we missed you’, so it’s nice to be wanted,” he said.

Another bonus to the relocation was being able to maintain their connections with local schools, for whom they did a lot of catering.

Mr McLaren was pleased to get a good outcome for Mr Maley’s business relocation.

“This particular tenancy offered really good parking, pretty good exposure, and was a really good size that suited his business, so it ticked all the boxes,” Mr McLaren said.

“(Mr Maley) will be a great tenant and a great addition to Cannon Park, complementing the other businesses out there as a daytime trader.

“(The 80sq m space) was basically a blank shell and he’s gone in there and fitted it out to suit, so he’s invested a lot of money in the area.”

For more information, visit: www.sandwichexpress.com.au

Originally published as Sandwich Express relocates Townsville store from Sunland Plaza to Cannon Park