A new sandwich shop has quickly become a sensation in London, Ontario. Al Paninos, located at 525 Richmond St., is experiencing massive demand, serving hundreds of sandwiches daily and attracting diverse customers from students to professionals. This rapid popularity highlights a thriving local market for elevated, simple food.
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The shop’s success is built on a menu featuring 16 distinct options, all using bread sourced from the local London Portuguese Bakery on Hamilton Road. A key differentiator is the commitment to house-made ingredients; everything from the marinara sauce to the balsamic glaze is prepared in-house.
What’s Driving the Popularity?
Owner Zack Agathos attributes the success to a simple philosophy: taking familiar concepts and elevating them with quality ingredients and thoughtful preparation, without over-complicating the process. “There’s no secret,” Agathos said. “We take what people are used to and elevate it with our little style – and we don’t complicate it.”
This approach seems to resonate strongly with London diners.
Menu Favorites and Volume
The menu boasts fan favorites like the Spicy Spyro ($16), served on focaccia and loaded with grilled chicken, goat cheese, roasted red pepper, bacon, hot sauce, pistachio pesto, roasted garlic aioli, and arugula. Close behind is the Fat Tony ($16), featuring pistachio pesto, mozzarella, chicken cutlet, shaved parmesan, marinara, balsamic glaze, and basil.
The shop consistently churns out 150 to 300 sandwiches per day. Among the popular choices, the meatball subs, packed with marinara, provolone, pesto, and parmesan, account for a significant portion, selling 30 to 40 daily.
Owner Zack Agathos standing in his popular London Ontario sandwich shop, Al Paninos
Serving a Diverse Customer Base
Al Paninos has quickly built a loyal customer base, including students, busy professionals, police officers, firefighters, and healthcare workers. While there are tables for dining in, most customers opt for takeout. Lineups, especially during lunch hours, have become a common sight, a testament to the shop’s popularity.
Agathos expressed pleasant surprise at the volume. “I’ve never been able to open a place with this crazy amount of customers,” he noted, praising his staff for keeping up with the demand while maintaining a positive work environment.
Outlook and What’s Next
Looking ahead, Agathos anticipates an even busier period in the fall with the return of post-graduate students. “It’ll be like reviving the shop again,” he said, predicting a different, potentially more intense phase of business.
This expected increase suggests Al Paninos’ growth trajectory is likely to continue, solidifying its position as a key player in London’s quick-serve food scene.
Al Paninos is open Monday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more stories on local business success in London, check out our related coverage.
