The JRECK Subs Menu Offers Fresh Meals Across Upstate New York

Last updated on June 4, 2026.

There’s something to be said about getting fresh, fast meals when you are on the road a lot. And as someone who often eats in her car, it’s not always easy to eat local while on the go. But I recently discovered that the beloved sandwiches from JRECK Subs that I remember from my childhood are still around. Not only that, but the restaurant chain remains locally owned and operated across Upstate New York. Luckily for me, JRECK Subs invited me out to check out their new menu and renovations at their Liverpool location.

If you’re like me, you may have forgotten that JRECK Subs is still around. Often overshadowed by national and international chains, it’s refreshing to see that a regional business still has multiple locations to eat at. And they’ve expanded their menu to include a variety of new entrees and sides.

The History of JRECK Subs

The regional restaurant chain celebrates its 60th anniversary next year, as JRECK Subs was first established in 1967. The original owners, Jerry Haley, Robert Martin, Ellis Martin, Charles Lehman, and Keith Waltz were all teachers at Carthage Central High School. Wanting a way to serve food to their students and local community, they converted an old school bus into a mobile sub shop. The bus operated for two summers before they opened their first year-round brick-and-mortar location in 1967.

Ever wondered where the name “JRECK” comes from? Take the first letter of each of the original owners’ names. And the school bus in their logo? It honors the old school bus where JRECK Subs first started.

Over the years the branding has changed, but the mission remains the same. Serve fresh, delicious food to the community while giving back in whatever ways possible. The green and yellow colors were discontinued alongside the Admiral mascot in 2021. Over the past few years JRECK Subs has had a brand refresh with a red and orange bus logo honoring the history of the company. JRECK locations across the state are getting remodeled to reflect their new identity.

JRECK Subs locations around Syracuse

While JRECK Subs was started in Carthage, it has expanded across Upstate New York. But it remains a regional brand, with different locations owned by local franchisees. Stretching from Watertown south to Syracuse and east to Saranac Lake, there are now over 20 locations.

In the Syracuse area, you can find four JRECK Subs. Owner Spencer operates the locations in Liverpool, Cicero, and Central Square. Each highlights the modern JRECK brand while honoring its history. And still providing fresh, made-to-order meals, of course.

You can find the local JRECK Subs at:
636 S Main Street in Central Square.
8097 Brewerton Road in Cicero.
720 Old Liverpool Road in Liverpool.
1601 Valley Drive in Syracuse.

What is on the JRECK Subs menu?

The menu at JRECK Subs contains what you’d expect. Subs! Both hot and cold, and always made-to-order. They take great pride in their rolls as well, specializing in super soft rolls made fresh daily. In addition to white, wheat, and a rotating flavor of rolls, they also offer spinach & herb and sun-dried tomato basil wraps.

As far as the type of subs, there are the usual contenders: standard lunch meats, chicken parm, meatball, BLT, etc. But they also have some more unique offerings, including chicken stir-fry, popcorn chicken, BBQ rib, and cheeseburger. On top of their regular menu, JRECKs also had seasonal selections. Currently, that is chicken salad, eggplant parm, and strawberry balsamic grilled chicken.

But despite the name, there’s more than subs on the menu. JRECKs also has salads, available as garden or julienne, or topped with grilled or fried chicken. Using the same fresh ingredients as in their subs, the salads are equally fresh and flavorful.

No meal is complete without the perfect side, and you’ll find those on the menu too. Standard options include a variety of fries — plain, cheesy ranch, sour cream & onion, or sweet potato — as well as pickles, mozzarella sticks, fried mushrooms, and onion rings. Again they offer seasonal options, which currently include fried green tomatoes, breaded cauliflower, and raspberry cheesecake logs.

Dietary Restrictions

Many of the items at JRECKs can be made vegetarian or vegan. Unfortunately, there currently are no gluten-free rolls for the sandwiches. So folks who can’t eat gluten will need to stick to the salads. (Why? I wasn’t kidding when I said they take a lot of pride in their rolls! They’ve sampled some gluten-free options but haven’t found a recipe or supplier that they are happy with yet.)

Discover more things to do in Liverpool, New York.

JRECK Subs gives back to the community

In addition to serving great meals, one of the core missions for JRECK Subs is giving back to the local communities. Over their history, they have awarded over $70,000 in scholarships to students in 15 different high schools. The locations regularly host fundraisers for local charities. And as a company established by teachers, it’s no surprise that they provide school supplies to local schools and go all out for Teacher Appreciation Week.