This Subway Stops in Belmont Center Today

It's been , , and weeks of and last minute permits and inspections.

Finally, today at 8 a.m., Christopher Cho will open the doors to Subway Restaurant's 37,187th store worldwide but Belmont's first ever fast food restaurant.

This is Cho's third Subway franchise that he owns in the area – the others are in Somerville and Sturbridge – which is a departure from his previous work as a consultant for a merger-and-acquisition firm for this Dartmouth and Ross Business School (University of Michigan) grad.

The native of the Buffalo, NY region was looking for businesses for his clients to buy as investments when he saw the value of well-run "quick service restaurants" especially Subway franchises. Cho noted that despite the downturn in the economy, sales were very strong in these eateries due to its healthy niche and value menu.

"So I chose a different path," said Cho, who lives on Trapelo Road just over the Waltham town line.

"I saw owning franchises as more motivating because it went to my entrepreneurial nature," he said.

In the past few years, he purchased several Subways in the Worcester area from people retiring from the business. But he sold those and is now seeking out areas in and around Boston that don't have a Subway to construct new stores. And Belmont fit that bill.

The Belmont store is much larger than the average Subway, with nearly 3,000 square feet compared to 1,200 at other franchises, with additional space downstairs. Cho has hired 15 employees and will likely add a few more as the business establish itself in the Center.