SUBWAY restaurant is newest addition to Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center

A new SUBWAY franchise began serving sandwiches at the center on Wednesday, Dec. 15.

The SUBWAY opening is the latest response to King County Executive Ron Sims’ call to practice a “new way of doing business” in the county park system, says Suzanne Little, director of the King County Parks and Recreation Division. For the past three years, King County Parks has formally sought innovative proposals for new concessions, sponsorship agreements and events to generate revenue to help fund the system. Among the successes so far are the US Bank Concerts at Marymoor Park, the sale of naming rights to the park’s Group Health Velodrome and the nationally-acclaimed Cougar Mountain Trail Running Series.

Little said the new SUBWAY franchise “provides a needed amenity for our patrons at the Aquatic Center, links a strong parks system with a nationally branded corporate partner and is a significant revenue source. SUBWAY also offers healthy options on their menu that fit within King County Parks’ desire to promote healthy lifestyles and will be attractive to the athletes who use the facility.”

Franchise owner/operator Rahim Karmali, who already operates two successful SUBWAY franchises in downtown Seattle’s Washington State Convention Center and a third in Federal Way’s Twin Lakes neighborhood, says he is excited about the opportunity to partner with King County Parks. “The Aquatic Center attracts more than 500,000 visitors each year, which provides us built-in clientele,” he said.

Not only will the SUBWAY agreement more than double the county’s concession revenue from the Aquatic Center, its presence will make the facility a stronger competitor for future events, said manager Mike Dunwiddie. “We host state, regional, national and international competitions throughout the year,” he noted. “A criteria for hosting many of these events is to have full-service concessions on site.”

The easy availability of healthy, quickly-prepared food will also benefit the center’s regular users, he added.

The SUBWAY franchise will be open from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and during the center’s regular weekend hours. The Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center is located at 650 SW Campus Drive in Federal Way.

King County Parks and SUBWAY are planning several grand opening events during the first quarter of 2005. Owner Karmali is providing his own incentive program by giving away a free cookie with each sandwich purchase through Jan. 1.

King County Parks and SUBWAY are in final negotiations for a restaurant in Marymoor Park and are researching additional locations and opportunities.

For more information on the SUBWAY agreement or the continuing focus on revenue-generating projects in the King County Park system, contact Tom Teigen at 263-6230.