Click photo to enlarge
The J.J. Gargantuan contains healthy slices of genoa salami, capicola, smoked ham, roast beef, turkey and provolone cheese loaded with onions, lettuce and tomato, homemade Italian dressing and a touch of mayo on fresh-baked bread.
It's the first week of 2013 and I'm convinced the real reason the world was saved from the Mayan Apocalypse is so that Las Crucens would get their chance to visit the brand new Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches at 901 E. University.

If you've never heard of J.J.'s (as those in the know like to call it), this place needs to be on your new year resolution list, or even your bucket list. The subs are that good.

Jimmy John's is located in the suites at the intersection of University and Espina where, if we're not careful, we just might develop a real urban-style college area. We strolled in the door to the sounds of John Lee Hooker's "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer" and the tunes didn't disappoint for the rest of the meal. We took a seat with our noses full of the scent of their fresh-baked French bread and my mouth was already starting to water. I was already in a good mood since the glass windows in front give the place a cheery atmosphere during the daytime hours, and highlight a really neat seating arrangement. In addition to the usual booth seating, J.J.'s has a large tavern style counter in the middle of the restaurant.

That way you can fit a lot of friends at the same table, or make new ones while you eat.

On to the menu: No real surprises here. You're going to find a great selection of sandwiches and there are two main types.

They've got the 8-inch sub that comes on that fresh French bread or the Giant Club — that comes with double the meat and you can choose to get it on their thick-sliced seven-grain bread that's also baked fresh daily.


Personally I'm always up for a challenge, so I ordered the largest sandwich on the menu. It's called the J.J. Gargantuan and it definitely lives up to the name. It's a sandwich that would make Dagwood a little misty around the eyes. They take healthy slices of genoa salami, capicola, smoked ham, roast beef, turkey and provolone cheese and pile it up with with onions, lettuce and tomato. They slap on some of their homemade Italian dressing and a touch of mayo and it's perfection on bread. The best part is that for a little extra dough, you can double up on the meat, although I'm not sure where they would have been able to put it.

Topping the experience off with a bag of thick crispy kettle chips and a giant pickle, I had a meal that could have kept me alive if I was lost in the woods for a week. As for the service, we had both of our sandwiches served within three minutes of ordering.

Jimmy John's may say "gourmet" on the label, but they aren't going to break your bank. You can get a sub without any of the fixins for just 3.79, while the average 8-incher is around $5. Plus, the crew was really friendly and made us feel right at home.

If you'd rather enjoy J.J.'s from the comfort of your own home, you are definitely in luck. They are also in the delivery business and they take orders over the phone or online. Jimmy John's is open from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. daily. That's right, they are open until three in the morning and so is their delivery service. The prices are a little bit higher when you get them delivered.

The real key to the taste and success of Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches is the freshness and quality of the ingredients. The bread is fresh every day and the meat is sliced fresh, as well. If you're not into meat, J.J.'s has a nice selection a vegetarian options on their menu and they also do lettuce wraps for those of you counting your carbs.

It's encouraging to see restaurants like Jimmy John's moving into our city as we continue to grow and thrive here in the Southwest. Let's hope this is a trend that continues for the new year. Happy New Year from Taste of Las Cruces.

Pablo Martinez is a freelance writer and may be reached at

If you go

What: Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches

Where: 901 E. University

When: 11 a.m. to 3 a.m., daily

How Much: Sandwiches, $3.79-7.79; Sides, $1.09-1.49

Info/Delivery: 575-373-1555