Restaurant Spotlight of the Week

While it had no official guidelines upon its conception, this section aimed to provide a glimpse at the Falls Church area’s native restaurants, whose originality was a part of Falls Church just as Falls Church’s originality was a part of the restaurant’s.

It was never written in stone, but we steered away from the chain restaurants because their uniqueness is not solely found in the Falls Church area. But ignoring the Jerry’s Subs and Pizza located in the heart of the city is to practically skip over Falls Church altogether.

It has been 17 years since the Pamboukian family hunted down the location in the Broaddale Shopping Center, where Annandale Rd. dead ends into Route 7, to open their very own Jerry’s franchise.

“I just love Falls Church and Route 7,” gushed Chris Pamboukian, son of Manuel and Angel Pamboukian. “Next to Rockville Pike, it is without a doubt the best road to do business on in the area.

At the time, the Jerry’s franchises were a fledgling Washington-based restaurant chain looking to take off. The Jerry’s in Falls Church has since elevated itself as to one of the premier franchises in the area. It now proudly serves as one of the few test franchises, sampling new Jerry’s products on customers before others. (For example, at this location only, hungry customers can cool off with a new smoothie!)

Over the years, Chris has watched the city change around him. All the other shops in Broaddale have since turned over multiple times.

“Falls Church has gone through a lot of dramatic change—especially recently,” he notes.

One thing that hasn’t changed—and Chris has made sure of it—is the best cheesesteak in the DC metro area. Hands down.

It’s one of the franchises overwhelming goals and Chris admits his store’s sales are 90% cheesesteaks. Featured prominently on the menu using American, provolone cheeses (or both) and other options feature sweet peppers, mushrooms, extra steak, bacon, etc. (The nouveau trend at Jerry’s is the Bistro sandwiches, featuring a traditional Italian flatbread.)

It’s darn tough to sway the synapses between stomach and wallet after mentioning a cheesesteak, but the real secret weapon on a Jerry’s menu is white pizza—a thin, cheese and herbs classic that is tough to beat.

Ok, so it’s easy to try other specialty items like the Chipotle Chicken, Veggie Melt, onion straws and the Big Jer at any Jerry’s. The reason people come—and continue to come—to the downtown Falls Church Jerry’s is because of the atmosphere.

Chris Pamboukian has been offered to buy multiple other franchises but turned it down because he feels his investment into this Jerry’s is too much.

“I’ve had a lot of customers that I’ve watched grow up over the years,” he said. “I remember them, for example, when they would come in with their friends as kids and years later I see them come in as adults. It’s great.”

Chris and Jerry’s have been a continual community sponsor, adding there name and often their food to many events in the city and area year-round. He is also quick to point out that the person on his staff with the shortest length of tenure is three years. There must be something more than just cheesesteaks to keep people around.