One of University of Idaho student Will DeViney”s favorite stories from working as a Jimmy John”s delivery driver begins with him climbing into the bed of his coworker”s silver Dodge truck. DeViney was like a sandwich Santa Claus, and it was Christmas in August on Greek Row.
“We were driving around Greek row and I was standing in the back just, like, throwing sandwiches at people as we drove by,” DeViney said.
DeViney, who began working at Jimmy John”s over the summer, said that business has picked up since the start of school.
“Ever since school started I deliver a lot of sandwiches to Greek Row,” DeViney said.
Alex Brizee | Rawr
University of Idaho student Will Deviney makes sandwhiches during a Sunday shift at Jimmy Johns.
DeViney said the busiest days are Saturday and Sunday, because fraternity and sorority cooks are off duty, and also because weekends are a time when people want to relax and treat themselves.
When he isn”t delivering to Greek Row, DeViney said many of his deliveries are to off-campus students. DeViney said the fun memories and goofy stories he has gained from his experience as a delivery driver always bring a smile to his face.
DeViney said the job sometimes puts him in bizarre situations, like when he delivered an order to a man in an apartment complex not far from the University of Idaho campus.
“I rang the doorbell and he answers it with a 40 of Old English in his hand,” DeViney said.
DeViney complimented the man on his drink of choice before heading back to the store to tackle another “freaky fast” delivery.
“The very next day I am working the same exact hours, and I get a call to the same exact apartment,” DeViney said. “He answers [the door] and he”s got the 40 in his hand for the second day in a row … I just look at him, and we both just started laughing.”
As a delivery driver, DeViney said he enjoys meeting and talking to a variety of people within his two-mile delivery radius.
“It”s got to be brief because you have to be back at the store, but I”ll make a delivery and I will see that same person around town,” DeViney said.
DeViney said sometimes the Jimmy John”s crew will order Dutch Bros. Coffee when they have a delivery in that area of town, or when the Dutch Bros. Coffee crew orders Jimmy John”s sandwiches.
“All of the Dutch Bros. girls know me as Jimmy John”s guy,” DeViney said.
While Jimmy John”s deliveries are supposed to be “freaky fast,” DeViney said his quickest delivery was to the Gritman Medical Center in three minutes.
Despite his three-minute triumph, DeViney said average delivery times depend on how busy the store is, but the goal is always to make a delivery within 15 minutes.
Part of the reason Jimmy John”s can make freaky fast deliveries is because the sandwiches are done, or nearly done, by the time the customer hangs up the phone, DeViney said.
He recommended his favorite sandwich – the Jimmy John”s Italian Night Club with hot peppers for that extra spicy kick.
“Order Jimmy John”s and I will make all of your wildest dreams come true,” DeViney said.
Whitney Hilliard can be reached at [email protected]