Restaurants & Bars
Ike’s Love & Sandwiches Comes to Pinole
The chain, founded in San Francisco by "a rebel with a dream," is serving fun sammies created specifically for Pinole.
PINOLE, CA — Ike’s Love & Sandwiches, a shop that melds pop culture, "dirty sauce" and unique sandwiches, opened its newest location Wednesday in Pinole — with two sandwiches specifically created for locals.
Pinole was the stomping ground for company founder Ike Shehadeh, who will host a June 14 grand opening celebration with freebies at the Fitzgerald Drive locale.
“Pinole!!! I created a brand-new sauce and some extra special sandwiches just for you,” Shehadeh said. "Growing up and living in the Bay, I used to visit Pinole to see some good friends of mine. It’s a surreal feeling for me to open an Ike’s in a Bay Area city that I used to frequent as a youth.”
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Launched in 2007 in San Francisco's Castro District by Shehadeh, a self-proclaimed "rebel with a dream," the operation's latest venue is at Pinole Vista Crossing. The business now operates nearly 100 stores across California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas and Colorado.
The Pinole menu includes Pinole-specific sandwiches as the all-beef meatball “Hey Bernardo” with Ike's Perky Pesto and gouda cheese, plus the “Cornmeal,” a vegan version with Ike’s signature vegan meatballs, Perky Pesto and gouda, company officials said.
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"Ike spends hours creating the menu for each new location with exclusive and iconic sandwiches, menu’s and murals that are connected to the city and community," management said.
A grand opening, meet-and-greet with the now iconic "Ike" is set Tuesday, June 14 — starting at 10 a.m. with free sandwiches and T-shirts for the first 50 people in line. And throughout the day, Ike’s rewards members can score $6 sandwiches and selfies with "Ike."
“Our grand opening days are always a great party," CEO Michael Goldberg said. "People come out to meet Ike and be the first to try the new sandwiches made as a tribute to their hometown.”
The chain's menu offerings —that cater to meat lovers, vegetarian, vegan, halal and gluten-free diets — include such innovatively dubbed sandwiches as: the "Menage A Trois," featuring halal chicken, honey mustard, BBQ sauce, real honey, pepper jack, Swiss and cheddar; the "Steph Curry" with turkey, Ike's yellow BBQ sauce and provolone; the "Marshawn Lynch" with fried chicken, bacon, spicy "'Beastmode" BBQ sauce, cheddar; and the "Reading Rainbow" with avocado, Ike's Red Pesto and cheddar.
All sandwiches are served hot with Ike's signature "Dirty Sauce" (a creamy garlic aioli), lettuce and tomato.
The Pinole Ike’s Love & Sandwiches is at Pinole Vista Crossing, 1356 Fitzgerald Drive. Daily hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Follow this link for more information, ordering and menu details.
Ike’s currently is hiring for the Pinole eatery. See link here for details or to apply.
Other area Ike's locations include Berkeley, Oakland/Rockridge and Emeryville.
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