Co-owners Kris Henderson and Alan Bruns brought Jamie’s Cheesesteaks to the Colony Square Mall food court. The business began with a soft opening last month and celebrated its grand opening on April 11 with a Zanesville-Muskingum County Chamber of Commerce-led ribbon cutting to make things official.
The duo opened their first restaurant in Newark but are happy to have moved to their current location in the Colony Square Mall. “[We’re wanting to bring] the best cheesesteaks in town and the nation!” exclaimed Bruns.” “We just hope to bring something of added value to the community, added Henderson. “Great food, great customer service, a good environment where everyone can come hang out and enjoy some good food.”
Members of the management team at Colony Square Mall attended the ribbon cutting ceremony.
“We’re really excited to have Jamie’s Cheesesteaks here at Colony Square Mall,” said Jessica Brailer, Colony Square Mall General Manager. “I think that it fills a need that we had here in our food court. We had a lot of requests for Philly cheesesteak-style sandwiches, and we now have more options than ever on the interior dining side. So we would like to welcome the community out to try it. I’ve tasted just about everything on their menu, and it is all really good.”
Brailer is not the only one to comment on the tastiness of Jamie’s Cheesesteaks menu offerings. The community has been raving about the tots, among other selections.
“We’ve heard really great feedback from the community, and the word [has] just really been spreading, and everyone has been coming out,” said Henderson. “We appreciate everyone coming out and supporting us, and everyone has been really great.”
The most popular menu items include Jamie’s original, Whisky Bacon Sandwich, Saki Teriaki, and loaded tots. Additionally, the restaurant has bone-in and boneless wings and homemade cheesecake. Cheesesteaks are made to order with steak, chicken, veggie, and plant-based protein options for the base and grilled onions, mushrooms, bell peppers, and hot peppers for the toppings. All sandwiches are 10 inches and come with a signature Jamie’s Cheesesteak blend. As for the tots, there are six different options to choose from, including seasoned tots, cheesy tots, loaded tots, Jamie’s tots (seasoned tots with Jamie’s sauce), Philly tots, and sweet potato tots. Prices range from $9.99 to $11.99 for the sandwiches, $3.99 to $6.99 for the tots, wings are $5.99 to $12.99, and the homemade cheesecake is $6.99 per slice.
Jamie’s Cheesesteaks is derived from generations of cooks in Henderson’s family who have been a big influence on him. “Jamie is actually my grandfather, and he would make these sandwiches at home, explained Henderson. “I figured like one day we should really do something with the sandwiches, and we just went from there.”
“I actually started cooking when I was 12,” Henderson says as he continues to explain his passion for cooking. “My mom owned a bakery in the North Market. That is where it all started for me, growing up in a family of cooks.”
Jamie’s Cheesecakes can be found on Facebook and Instagram. They are open during mall hours at 3575 Maple Avenue, Zanesville.
