After 38 years of serving Downtown Phoenix with hearty subs, Old Station Sub Shop is changing hands, but the founding couple's legacy between the bread will continue. The Faillaces, Debbie and Joe, announced they're hanging up their aprons for a well-deserved retirement. In a whirlwind of interest fueled by the city's recent cleanup of a nearby homeless encampment known as 'The Zone', a buyer has come forward to take the reins of the storied eatery, ensuring the decades-old sandwich traditions will not be lost.
Aptly, the new owner is a familiar face – state worker Bill Ellis, whose brother is a regular at the sub shop. In discussions with ABC15, Ellis shared the casual inception of his ownership, "You want to buy a sub shop? And I said, 'Yeah, let’s buy a sub shop.'" The Faillaces, seeking the perfect successor, saw their criteria met in Ellis. "We wanted the right fit for our business. We didn't want just a random person coming in because we’ve been here 38 years and we want our customers still to be taken care of," Debbie told ABC15.
Ellis is not planning extensive changes, understanding the sub-shop's role in the fabric of the local community. "The road’s paved. All I’ve got to do is keep driving," he explained to ABC15, brandishing a new sub-themed tattoo, a mark of his commitment. Even in his nascent days as owner, he's gauged the shop's deep roots, "Just how much this place means to people," Ellis reflected, noting the sub-shop's iconic status.
Matters were not always so optimistic, however. 'The Zone', and its implied deterrent to potential patrons, had initially cast a shadow over the shop's prospects. Joe Faillace's decision to sell, however, synchronized with Phoenix's focused efforts to resolve the swarming homeless crisis. As he put it to FOX 10 Phoenix, "I love this place", has resulted in a rejuvenation for the business post-clean-up with Faillace expressing a sense of relief and hope for the continuation of his life's work.
The rebirth of Old Station Sub Shop ventures beyond deli counters and sandwich presses – it's a microcosm of Downtown Phoenix's ongoing transformation. As the city grapples with social challenges, the shop's turnaround under a new guardian occupies a beacon of community resilience and continuity, meanwhile, Debbie and Joe Faillace can look forward to enjoying their golden years. "38 years and it's a happy ending. We’re happy I get to be with my sweetie!" a joyful Debbie told ABC15.
