Tinn’s Grilled Philly Steak Subs soft-launched their Northfield location Jan. 12 according to their official Facebook page. The business originated in Rochester, but due to construction causing a decrease in over half of sales, Tinn’s owner Leroy Slininger took the opportunity to relocate to Northfield in place of Gong Loco. The former restaurant closed last May.
Tinn’s was originally named Grand Junction Subs in Rochester, Minn. beginning in 1996. The business expanded to North Dakota and sold the rights for a potential franchise. In 2005, Grand Junction became Tinn’s under founder Tien Danh. Danh passed away in 2014 after a battle with cancer. The rights passed on to another owner until it eventually shut down from 2018 to 2024.
In 2024, Slininger opened Tinn’s back up in Rochester. He has been working with Tinn’s since the original Grand Junction Subs days in North Dakota as a teenager. Similarly to Slininger, much of the staff have been working with Tinn’s for nearly a decade. Slininger reopened Tinn’s due to the previous praise the restaurant received.
“There were a lot of rumors of ‘you guys were the best,’” Slininger said in an interview with The Olaf Messenger.
Slininger noted that Tinn’s was voted the “number one sub” and “number one take-out” in the region by visitors on Facebook. Fan favorites include the Chipotle Philly Steak and the Chicken Parmesan Bacon Ranch, with some newfound love for the Nashville Chicken, against what Slininger said his “guys would say.” All sandwiches are made with fresh sourdough bread. He credits the restaurant’s clean food vision for the success of the business.
“Our whole concept is fresh,” Slininger said. “We have fresh cut fries [and] your order is cooked to order. It takes a little bit of time to get your food, but it’s hot and fresh; I don’t believe in that processed stuff.”
All of the food sourced for Tinn’s comes from U.S. Foods.
“It’s always been in my passion, food has,” Slininger said. “When I see a kid eating a french fry for the first time, and I see that smile, that just seals the deal for me. We don’t want to cut corners on quality.”
He aims to center the experience at Tinn’s around the Northfield community and customer experience.
“The focus with college towns: it’s simple, easy, and we try to get it as cheap as possible,” Slininger said. “You come in here, you can sit back, relax, wear whatever you want, [and] enjoy your food.”
Slininger said that there will soon be a weekly college student special. Students selected Tuesdays as the ideal weekday for the upcoming 10% weekly discount.
He’s excited to “see where it goes” in terms of the location change. The business upscaled from 750 square feet in Rochester to 2,500 square feet in Northfield.
“We’re seeing how the franchise concept will work,” Slininger said.
Business is steady and open to hiring. Tinn’s is open to new possibilities with the new adjustment.
“We bought a concession trailer last year,” Slininger said, which will lead to fair appearances throughout the year.
“Come out and give us a try, and give us your honest opinion,” Slininger said. “If there’s something you want us to try, we aren’t scared to try it.”
