Noble Gas is ramping up its foodservice offerings via third parties—and Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop is the newest player in the convenience-store chain’s plans.
The chain’s Enfield, Connecticut, location, 190 Elm St., is the first of three Capriotti’s Sandwich Shops opening in partnership with franchisees James and Nicole Drazdowsky.
It opened in late April.
The Drazdowsys have a three-unit deal to bring the brand, which sells hand-crafted cheesesteaks, turkey subs and more, to the state in collaboration with Noble Gas.
Each of the three Capriotti’s coming to Connecticut will be part of Hartford, Connecticut-based Noble Gas’ vision to “redefine the convenience store and fueling experience, offering premium food options alongside EV charging, car washes and other amenities,” Capriotti’s said.
Michael Frisbie, co-owner of Noble Gas, which started in 2013 and now has 13 locations, told CSP that Noble Gas has relationships with Dunkin’ and Subway as well as with local foodservice businesses.
He said the goal of their stores, which are open 24 hours, is “creating food offerings inside our new facilities that are higher quality, better offerings, like a Capriotti’s, which I think lends well”—and having food offerings throughout each daypart to keep bringing people back.
“The goal is for Noble is to have people on property all day long, so you can come for your coffee and breakfast offering, you can come and get a grinder or grab-and-go during the day,” he said, adding that they also have an ice cream tenant with a serving window and an outdoor fire pit at their newest locations.
“The whole idea is to have multiple offerings on property so people can come there any time of the day or night, on weekends, to enjoy the facility,” he said. “It’s not your typical gas station convenience store where people come in and get gas, lottery, cigarettes and move.
“They come in and we have indoor seating,” he continued. “We have outdoor seating with a fireplace, and in some locations we have an Express Tunnel Car Wash called Soapy Noble. It’s our new brand that we started two years ago. We just opened our seventh car wash, so we’re continuing to add profit centers onto the business as best we can to serve our customers.”
New Generation
Noble Gas’s latest generation of stores, its four newest locations, offers coffee and breakfast, some of which are Dunkin’ and others a mini version of local coffeehouse chain Sturbridge, Frisbie said.
“We also have a local Mexican taco guy inside that facility,” he said. “So, we have other offerings that are higher quality than which you typically get at a gas station convenience store, but we're bringing in food vendors that we want to partner with, like Capriotti's, that will allow our customers to have multiple reasons to stop there and be happy that they are.”
Noble Gas doesn’t make any of the food it sells, rather, “We’re looking to partner with people that know the food business,” Frisbie said. “We’ll provide a high-end facility and a customer base for folks that are looking to provide the foodservice. It’s an easy way for them to get into a business and be in a spot where, you know, we’re successful, which will certainly hopefully make them successful, which will make us more successful.”
Las Vegas-based Capriotti’s offerings include:
The Bobbie, a sandwich featuring fresh oven-roasted turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing and mayo.
Capastrami, a hot pastrami sandwich with Swiss cheese, Russian dressing and homemade coleslaw.
Cheesesteaks, made with steak, chicken or Impossible plant-based meat, melted cheese and hot or sweet peppers.
In addition to sandwiches, the new Enfield Capriotti’s offer the Capriotti’s rewards app through which customers can earn and redeem rewards for free food; online ordering, order-ahead options and third-party delivery; and catering.
Following the Enfield launch, the Drazdowskys plan to open two additional Capriotti’s locations in Noble Gas fuel stations in Windsor and Hamden.
“I was drawn to Capriotti’s because of its commitment to quality and its strong corporate support system,” James Drazdowsky said. “We’re excited to introduce Connecticut to Capriotti’s, and we believe this partnership with Noble will set a new standard for what guests expect from a convenience store dining experience.”
Founded in 1976, Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop is a national franchised restaurant chain with a 49-year tradition of slow-roasting whole, all-natural turkeys in-house every day. Capriotti’s cold, grilled and vegetarian subs, cheesesteaks and salads are available at more than 175 locations across the United States.
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