A Valley-based sandwich chain is opening its first location in Queen Creek.

Mr. Pickle’s Sandwich Shop has broken ground on a new restaurant at the Vineyard Towne Center, 200 W. Combs Road, and is set to open in the fall. The 1,600-square-foot restaurant will employ about 25 people.

Mr. Pickle’s new location will be the brand’s first shop in Queen Creek and its sixth in Arizona, with previous restaurants opening in Scottsdale, Chandler and Surprise earlier this year. A location in Laveen is set to open in September, according to a press release.

Company CEO Mike Nelson, a Valley resident, purchased the Mr. Pickle’s brand in 2021, when founders Frank and Michele Fagundes retired. Nelson moved the company’s national headquarters from Northern California to Scottsdale in 2022.

Mr. Pickle’s Sandwich Shop specializes in sandwiches, salads and catering. The restaurant will feature legacy sandwiches such as the Santa Maria Tri-Tip, with its meat sourced from the Santa Maria, California region and topped with specialty barbecue sauce and the works.

Nelson is also introducing new sandwiches to the menu.

“The first is Listen Linda, which is named after my wife of 36 years and is piled high with turkey breast, avocado, bacon, Swiss cheese and the works – including our specialty garlic sauce – as far as condiments unless otherwise noted,” stated Nelson in the press release. “And the second? That would be Della’s Deli, which honors my business partner, best friend, and Mr. Pickle’s president Dean Johnson’s wife of more than 40 years, Della. It features turkey breast, ham, salami, cheddar and the works.”

Founded in 1995, Mr. Pickle’s grew from one restaurant to 56 locations across Northern California. In 2023, the company began opening restaurants in Arizona. Currently, there are 62 locations across Arizona and California.