The Submarine Factory Inc., a family owned sandwich shop, was set to open Monday in the shuttered Wojos in Evergreen Park, said owner Agustin Romero, who was a chef at Wojos.
Wojos restaurant closed permanently after 45 years, but Romero said customers can still expect nostalgic char-broiled burgers and shakes using the same Wojos recipe, along with submarines, veggie and turkey burgers, soups, salads and mac and cheese bites.
Romero, who said he has more than 30 years of restaurant experience and worked for Wojos since March 2024, said he is cleaning up the nearly half-century old restaurant, keeping some of the employees and aiming to improve the service.
“I’ve been doing this for so many years, and when I cook, I cook just like it’s for myself, but it’s for other people” he said. “That’s my idea of cooking. When I’m cooking I try to do the best.”
Wojos, nestled between Brother Rice and Mother McAuley high schools on South Pulaski Road in Evergreen Park, abruptly changed signs March 26, causing online surprise and concern for its longtime customers.
Mike Pironti, Wojos owner since 2016, said he chose to sell the business due to increased property taxes. He said the restaurant meant a lot to the community and it became a staple with regular customers in his nine years as owner. He bought the property from Ken Wojcicki.
Angelica Perez, an area resident who works at Lamar Cleaners, adjacent to The Submarine Factory, said customers kept asking her for answers about the sign change while she worked Thursday and Friday. She said she did not know much about the change in ownership but said she likes the shakes and knows was a local staple.
Romero said he saw the online outcry about the sign change and sought to assure customers the restaurant will build on Wojos’ legacy.
“The most important thing is taking care of the customers,” he said. “The restaurant is the same but better now. It was the best for the previous guy and now I’ve got to do better for myself.”
Romero said the property sale was finalized and he officially acquired the building March 25 after more than a year of discussion.
Evergreen Park officials approved Romero’s business license Oct. 6 2025, according to the Village Board meeting minutes. Romero, an Oak Lawn resident, indicated he did not plan any renovations. Village Trustee Mark Phelan voted against approving Romero’s business license.
Romero said Pironti sought to sell for years. While he has not opened his own store before, Romero said he brings experience opening Mr. Submarines franchises. He said he worked at the Mr. Submarines in Beverly for two decades, during which he witnessed young customers grow up and have families of their own.
The Submarine Factory Inc. will be open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.
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Vanessa Romero, manager, said the restaurant will still sell Wojos shakes, but not all 75 flavors. Fourteen shake flavors, including vanilla, chocolate, New York cherry, Oreo, mint and peanut butter were listed on the menu with the option to make the shake a malt or add fruit, fudge or peanut butter.
The Submarine Factory will also offer catering, homemade soups of the day, kids meals, appetizers and dinner plates, according to the menu.
Romero, the manager, said her father chose the restaurant due to its location at the intersection of South Pulaski Road and West 99th Street, near high schools, Saint Xavier University and Advocate Christ Emergency Services Hospital.
“After school or from the hospitals, if someone’s hungry, they can come inside,” she said. “We’re really hopeful that somewhere in the day when they get their free time they can give us a try.”
She said the Submarine Factory staff repainted the dining area walls blue and plan to repaint the outside, now dark brown, to blue and white.
“We’re trying to paint it over to see if we could give it more color because if you look at the outside, it’s like, you pass by, and sometimes people don’t even know about it,” she said. “It looked a little beat up, and we’re trying to make it look more alive.”
Agustin Romero said he plans on redoing the parking lot but that weather conditions have delayed the project. He also plans a grand opening gathering at 10 a.m. on Friday, although the time is subject to change.
Pironti, Wojos’ previous owner, now works as a manager for Patriot Pub in Crestwood.