1st Phl Cheese Steak Shop opens Nov 21

MANILA, Philippines - The Philadelphia-style cheese steak sandwiches that Filipinos in California came to love will now be served fresh right here in the Philippines as the 30-year-old The Cheese Steak Shop officially opens its first branch in Makati on Nov. 21.

Margaret “Mai” Uy, a scion of a family of businessmen that has interest in various industries in the country, is confident that The Cheese Steak Shop will also be a hit here in the country, which is why she secured the exclusive license to bring The Cheese Steak Shop here.

Uy, then a student in Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, California, got her first taste of cheese steak sandwich at Walnut Creek 22 years ago.

Since then, she kept on approaching the management of the restaurant to inquire if The Cheese Steak Shop will be branching out of the United States.

She finally got the approval of the management in 2010 when the company decided to start its international franchising.

The “Cheese Steak Shop” franchise is the only known restaurant chain in Northern California that makes the tasty original Philadelphia-style cheese steak sandwich, combining the mouth watering taste of prime cut beef, grilled onions and cheese deliciously packed on 7”, 10” or 15” rolls and topped with hot and sweet peppers for added sting and flavor.

The first Cheese Steak Shop was opened in 1982 on Divisadero St., in San Francisco, California by Keith Layton, a chef by trade and a native of Philadelphia, who relocated to San Francisco from Coatesville, Pennsylvania.

From 1983 to 1996, eight more stores were opened in Walnut Creek, Concord, Oakland, Pleasanton, Pittsburg, San Jose, Castro Valley, and Pinole. It now has 28 outlets.

The first Cheese Steak Shop Manila had its dry run on July 11, 2011 at the G/F The E-Hotel Makati, 906 A. Arnaiz St. (formerly Pasay Road ), San Lorenzo Village , Makati City . The official grand opening is scheduled on Nov. 21.

“To make sure that the highest standards of the Franchise are followed, The Cheese Steak Shop USA sent its operations manager Doug Smith, who has been with the company for 26 years, to the Philippines. Doug Smith conducted a thorough food product testing, training and evaluation of personnel. He left the Philippines fully satisfied that The Cheese Steak Shop Manila offers the same highest quality standards that are found in US branches,” Uy said. 

Uy is now considering other locations for the planned additional Cheese Steak Shop branches in the Philippines.

For inquiries, call  555-0235, 555-1818, or send email to [email protected], or visit its website at www.cheesesteakshop.com.ph.