The Westwood location of the popular Northern California sandwich chain Ike’s Place is now open and serving hungry customers following a monthslong battle over the property.
The store, which is the first in Southern California, started officially selling sandwiches to the public on Sept. 23. Customers, who include a fair share of UCLA students, say the subs have been worth the wait.
Elias Saba, a fourth-year physiological science student, said he has visited other Ike’s locations in California and was excited to see the Westwood shop finally open.
“There’s something magical about this place,” Saba said. “It’s definitely an experience.”
Owner Ike Shehadeh said he chose to open his first Southern California location in Westwood because of its proximity to UCLA and its high visibility from a number of busy streets.
In January, Shehadeh posted a statement on his personal Facebook page saying he was unaffiliated with the shop on the corner of Lindbrook Drive and Westwood Boulevard that bore his name.
In the post, he said the Original Soupman CEO Lloyd Sugarman and Robert Azinian, a co-lessee of the restaurant, were set to open a restaurant in Westwood under the “Ike’s” name, but without permission to use his recipes.
After a few months with no movement within the empty shop, Cal-American Corporation, the real estate company that owned the building, sued to evict the restaurant’s owners for failing to pay rent.
Shehadeh, whose cartoon face adorns many of the shop’s promotional materials, declined to give any details on the conflict except to say it was resolved.
Even with the wealth of other sandwich shops in the area, including Jimmy John’s and Subway across the street, Saba said he thinks Ike’s offers the best sandwiches in Westwood.
Shehadeh attributes the difference between his restaurant and others to his chain’s core values of love, respect and admiration, which can be seen posted up alongside the miles-long menu on the store’s windows.
“I wouldn’t be able to sell a lot of sandwiches, if people weren’t hungry for them,” Shehadeh said. “It all goes back to respect. A lot of other places I eat I feel like they’re doing me a favor.”
Ike’s celebrated its expansion to the Southland by welcoming other Los Angeles newcomers for a quick bite at the restaurant, including Laker Jeremy Lin, who created his own “Linsanity” signature sandwich.
Although the store officially started selling sandwiches in September, a grand opening event is tentatively scheduled for early next year, which will have eating contests and giveaways, Shehadeh said.
He added that he also plans to extend the opening hours of the restaurant so students can wander into the store late at night seeking their Ike’s sandwiches.
Like other Ike’s sandwich shops in Northern California, the Westwood location has its own exclusive sandwiches and menu items, including the “John Wooden” and the “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”
Renee Jonas, a third-year psychology and dance student, said she was initially concerned about the quality of the food when she heard rumors about problems with the ownership, but those fears were calmed when she was halfway into her “Spiffy Tiffy.”
“Growing up in Northern California, this was the place me and my friends liked to go,” Jonas said. “Its always been a name brand back home.”
Another new customer, Adam Gittess, a third-year political science student, said he was overwhelmed by the sheer number of options on the menu when he visited for the first time over the weekend.
After unwrapping his “Tony Soprano” and taking a huge bite, Gittess was able to let out a mumbled “This place is the best” before continuing to dig in.