Students and staff at Ashland Community and Technical College will soon have a new dining option thanks to a partnership with Jimmy John’s.

The popular gourmet sandwich chain will open for the first day of classes on Monday, Aug. 14, and will serve lunch from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays.

Vikas “V.J.” Jindal, president of MPV Management and owner of the Ashland Town Center and Morehead Jimmy John’s locations, said the ACTC location will offer a full food menu, which includes the restaurant’s popular 8-inch and giant subs, at the same prices as the Town Center location.

“Drinks or pop will be the only thing which would be limited as there are vending machines next to the café,” Jindal said.

He also said catering orders or large orders should still be made at the Town Center store.

Steve Woodburn, Dean of Student Success and Enrollment Services, said the addition of Jimmy John’s is a great convenience for students

“I think it is important to give our students a choice from a vendor which is housed inside our campus,” Woodburn said. “It gives them, especially for students who may not have transportation readily available, a place where if they only have 10 to 15 minutes between classes, they can run down and grab something real quick before class starts.”

The contract for service will go through June 2018 with an option for renewal through 2023.

“Jimmy Johns is a perfect fit for ACTC,” Jindal said. “It cannot get better than that. Me and my team are very excited to be there and are hoping for the same and positive response from all the students and staff.”