Jimmy John’s provides for front-liners despite downturn

Personnel at the Putnam County Hospital express their gratitude to Jimmy John’s for its recent delivery. The local chain sandwich shop provided 50 meals covering four departments.

Courtesy photo

Being a small sandwich shop that would now be catering to hungry college students, Jimmy John’s has been greatly affected by the slowdowns due to the COVID-19 spread.

Depending on its in-person dining as much as its delivery, the limitations the local eatery now faces have placed a greater emphasis on reaching out as much as possible.

“It’s definitely changed to where we can’t do dine-in, which makes up a lot of our business,” owner Brian Snook told the Banner Graphic Monday afternoon. “We also don’t have a drive-in, which limits us further.”

Snook also owns the Jimmy John’s location in Crawfordsville, which does have its own drive-through. As such, the Greencastle shop on Indianapolis Road is at a disadvantage.

However, a great effort of the restaurant’s outreach was recently put to providing for local health-care workers at the Putnam County Hospital in their fight against the coronavirus.

Jimmy John’s delivered 50 meals -- which each included a sandwich and a bag of chips -- to the emergency room, ICU, labs and radiology department late last month.

Snook credited the idea to manager Jesse Scroggin, whose mother works at the hospital.

Jimmy John’s is working out the logistics to deliver sandwiches to the Greencastle Police Department this coming Thursday or Friday.

Snook said that this was just to say “Thank you” and to encourage them to keep up the good work continuing to keep the community safe.

Snook was thankful to not have to cut employees despite the downturn. However, he added that he has had to cut hours to remain financially stable until stimulus relief may be secured.

He provided that Jimmy John’s -- like other small eateries -- has lost a majority of its dependable crowd due to the closure of DePauw University. However, it will continue to stay open for front-liners and customers alike.

“Business has really slowed down,” he said. “But this gives us the opportunity to do something to stand out, and to do our part.”

In the meantime, anyone craving a sandwich can still call in their order. Both curbside and delivery service are being offered to get one out to them as “freaky fast” and as safely as possible.

Snook said that a drive-through tent will be put up no later than Wednesday. This is just one way he is hoping to bring more attention to the roadside business.

“Just come on in,” the owner directed to potential customers. “I also want to encourage everyone to get out and support our local businesses, because we all need it.”