Sandwich Express business survives through think and thin

A small business selling sandwiches to city workers is marking 20 years since its founders started trading in Townsville.

A SMALL business selling sandwiches to city workers has shown its resilience through changing times, marking 20 years since its founders began trading in Townsville.

Julie Bailey, owner of the now franchised Sandwich Express, said the business had come through cyclones, floods and major redevelopments, both of its premises and Flinders St, and prospered to grow from one small store to three.

The business is marking the milestone with balloons and celebrations but it is also tinged with sadness because of the death of Julie’s husband, Peter, this year. “Peter worked on the operational side of Sandwich Express and had the vision for the design and fit-out of the shops and he did most of the fit-outs himself. I was the shop manager, HR person, sandwich maker and menu creator. We made a good team,” Ms Bailey said.

Sandwich Express franchisors Julie and Peter Bailey. Peter died earlier this year.

Sandwich Express opened in Northtown, where it continues to trade, in 2001.

A second store was opened in Garbutt in 2008 and a third in Kirwan in 2013.

The business has been franchised and now has three franchise owners.

Originally published as Sandwich Express business survives through think and thin