Franchising

Former Astros pitcher adds to his Ike's Love & Sandwiches lineup

Provided

January 13, 2022

Ike's Love & Sandwiches has opened its second Houston location (2518 A Rice Blvd) in partnership with Mark Appel, a former pitcher for the Houston Astros.

"It has been a blast as Part Owner in Houston since opening our first Ike's location in the Heights two years ago," Appel said in a company press release. "Since first trying Ike's in college, Ike's has been the best sandwich I've ever had. I knew Ike's would be a success in my hometown here in Houston. Between the amazing combinations of ingredients and the unique flavors in the sauces and the bread (especially the Dutch Crunch), bringing Ike's to Houston has been a dream of mine!"

In 2019, Appel opened Houston's first Ike's Love & Sandwiches in the Heights neighborhood. The athlete was drafted first overall for the Astros in 2013 as a pitcher, then traded in 2015 to the Philadelphia Phillies. While he stepped away from baseball for a few years, Appel is working on a comeback to the sport this year, according to the release.

Ike's was founded in 2007 in San Francisco and now has 81 locations.