By Jennifer Abreu

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Jimmy John’s celebrated their Customer Appreciation Day Thursday with $1 subs — and customers celebrated the deal by lining up outside the store.

Every year, all Jimmy John’s in Lexington and the surrounding areas agree on a day to sell their 8 inch subs for only $1.

From 11 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Thursday, the Jimmy John’s on Limestone Drive prepared approximately 1,500 sandwiches, according to the store general manager Mike Durham.

Josh Billingsley, a math and physics junior, said he goes to Jimmy John’s at least twice a week and did not miss out on the deal.

“I love getting food for less money,” he said.

Durham said the idea is to introduce the restaurant to new faces on campus.

“We are hoping some people who have never been here before came today and tried our subs,” he said.

Durham said at some point during the 4-hour dollar menu, the line outside was backed up the block to the McDonald’s that is located on the left of the building.

Despite the long line outside and the high numbers of orders, the crew inside was not slowed down. Durham said it takes about 20 seconds to make one sandwich.

Jenn Fisher and Bill Mercke, grad school students, said it took them ten minutes to get to the register.

Mercke guessed there were about 50 people in front of them.

“It’s freakishly fast,” Fisher said.

Ryan Deatherage, an employee at Jimmy John’s, said it’s all about the customers on campus.

“Jimmy John’s is No. 1 in keeping customers happy,” he said.

As one employee handed out menus to the people waiting in line outside, Deatherage took their orders, speeding up the process.

Customers could pick from the BLT list, numbers 1 through 5 on the menu, and pay only $1 for items that normally cost $4.50.

The preparation for the big day started at 2 a.m. Thursday with baking bread and getting set up to serve the hungry crowd, Durham said.

“All for the four hours,” he said.