Local landmark eatery relocates

Though Steve and Joan Feleay, owners of local landmark Hoagie’s Heroes, did not plan it that way, they opened and closed the doors of their Olive Avenue location on the exact same day — 31 years apart.

The sandwich shop recently relocated to Main Street, facing City Hall, and added an espresso bar to tempt the sleep-deprived denizens of downtown.

The new 298 N. Main St. address boasts outdoor seating, Seattle’s Best coffee drinks and a host of new menu items.

“We hope we can bring old customers to the new location, and at the same time cater to the businesses and merchants downtown,” Feleay said.

Feleay plans to develop a synergy with the Centennial Park complex, a mutually beneficial combination he and Joan said they observed on the very first day they were open. The clear, sunny Saturday brought hungry customers who took their sandwiches outside to the tables between the restaurant and the park while their children threw Frisbees.

A small box near the back of the Hoagie's eating area holds picnic mats for those inclined to take their meal to the great outdoors.

Manager Tracy Arden said Fridays are busiest, but that traffic hasn’t slowed a smidgen since opening day.

An selection of vintage Coca Cola signs from the original location have a new home on the wall above the drink bar.

Black-framed, sepia-toned photographs of Porterville landmarks line the wall — including high schools, churches and the iconic farmer statue which sits at the intersection of Henderson and Main.

According to Chamber of Commerce CEO Donnette Silva Carter, the restaurant’s new location will blend nicely with community events scheduled for Centennial Park, such as Music on Main.

“We’ve been waiting a long time for someone to go in and occupy that spot,” she said. “Having someone who already was successful in town move to Main Street and get to expand will be good for the residents of Porterville.”

The Feleays said they are looking forward to meeting people who come in during park functions, as much as they look forward to the business such events will generate.

Dan Smith of SmithCare, which owns the corner building Hoagies moved to, said he “couldn’t be happier” with the new occupant.

“From the time we took possession of the space now occupied by Hoagie’s, it has been our goal to find a restaurant with a proven track record and a menu that works well for the downtown area and Centennial Park,” he said. “We are already seeing the benefits of having Hoagie’s downtown as it complements the local services including local businesses, patients in the therapy center within Centennial Plaza and others.”

City Manager John Lollis sees the new arrival as the precursor to a revitalization of Porterville’s downtown area.

Once the new courthouse is in place, he said, business will grow at a rapid rate as attorneys open shop in the area and businesses, in turn, move into the area to support the needs of the professional crowd.

Silva Carter said Porterville businesspeople frequently express to her their desire to have a vibrant downtown.

“We’re hoping that with Hoagies coming in, and the courthouse, the fabric of downtown is going to have some good changes over the next few years,” she said.

To accommodate their expanding customer base, Hoagie's has adopted expanded hours. Instead of opening at 9 a.m., the shop now opens at 6:30 a.m. for the early morning caffeine crowd, and remains open until 9 p.m.

--Contact Sarah de Crescenzo at 784-5000, Ext. 1045, or sdecrescenzo@portervillerecorder.com.