FEATURE FRIDAY: Michael Nelson, CEO of Mr. Pickle’s, Talks Sandwiches and High School Loves

Michael Nelson is obsessed with sandwiches.

In 2019, he was visiting Northern California when he stopped into Mr. Pickle’s, a cult mom-and-pop family brand with 50 shops in the area.

Fast-forward 20 sandwiches later, and he was officially a fan.

Then Nelson, a 30-year veteran of the local and national food scene, heard that the founders of Mr. Pickle’s were looking to retire—so he sprang into action.

He purchased the entire brand and moved the headquarters to Scottsdale in 2022, with plans to open locations across Arizona, California, and nationwide over the next several years. He opened his first Arizona location in Scottsdale in January 2023 and currently has six locations statewide, in addition to more than 50 in California.

This past summer, under his leadership, Mr. Pickle’s was named by Nation’s Restaurant News among the top 100 brands under 100 locations in America.

Tell us about your first Mr. Pickle’s sandwich …

I was on a business trip in northern California and stumbled on the brand by accident. A big sandwich guy since birth, I wondered what all the fuss was about up there, where the brand was huge. It took one bite of a Big Jake to understand. Yes, it was love at first bite.

How did you come to own the brand?

In 2021, I learned the husband-and-wife owners who founded the restaurant in the 1990s and built it to more than 50 locations in California planned to retire. I jumped at the chance to keep the brand going, not to mention the opportunity to expand it to Arizona and beyond.

Can you describe the menu?

Since 1995, Mr. Pickle’s has been a premier sandwich shop specializing in innovative and crave-worthy sandwiches, salads, and catering. We partner with as many artisan bakers, regional farms, and ranches as we can when sourcing our products, making every item unique to us. You will not see 6-inch and footlong sizing at Mr. Pickle’s, more specialty breads than uniform options.

What is YOUR favorite sandwich?

The one I created for my wife. It is called Listen Linda. And yes, I do my best to always listen to MY Linda!

Why did you choose Scottsdale for the company’s headquarters?

It has been my home since 2000. I still have a franchisee support center in California, but we want to build the brand in our own backyard.

What are your future plans for the brand?

We are using National Sandwich Day on Nov. 3 to re-launch our Pickle Point Loyalty Program, so click here and stay tuned there. We also have several deals in process to continue expanding nationwide and are actively looking for franchisees both in Arizona and beyond.

When you’re not eating sandwiches, your favorite foods are …

Steaks, burgers, and wings.

Favorite places in Scottsdale?

I am partial to anywhere with a good Mai Tai.

One thing we’d be surprised to learn about you …

My wife, Linda, was my high school sweetheart. I spotted her while working as a meat cutter at the local grocer in the neighborhood where we grew up and somehow convinced her to eventually go out with me. We even went to prom together.

SugarJam The Southern Kitchen is a restaurant, bakery, and bar in North Scottsdale. And as the CEO and head chef, she’s made it her mission to bring top-quality Southern cuisine to the area. Her locale offers Southern-based breakfasts, sandwiches, and sweet treats, as well as a full bar.

Dumas launched her brand 12 years ago, first as a small at-home bakery. Called into SugarJam Cookies, LLC, the venture combined her business background and love for baking. She sold her creations at craft fairs and festivals.

By 2011, she opened her brick-and-mortar Scottsdale location.

SugarJam The Southern Kitchen allowed her to incorporate her weekend brunch, her beloved bakery, and also the full bar.

The SugarJam brand continues to expand as Dumas recently opened The Market by SugarJam, a brand gift shop and an ice cream trailer located right next to the restaurant.

We caught up with her to talk about food, local restaurants, and what she does when she’s not working.

 Why did you want to open SugarJam The Southern Kitchen?

SugarJam The Southern Kitchen is my second concept, which I launched during COVID-19. It

was a business pivot, during a time when comfort food was strongly desired.

What sets it apart from other restaurants and bakeries?

SugarJam is a Southern-influenced brunch restaurant with an authentic vibe! Under one roof, there is a full restaurant, bar, bakery, and gift shop. SugarJam also features our resident DJ every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

What are your most popular items?

Catfish N’ Grits, French Toast & Fried Chicken, Creole Shrimp N’ Grits, Waffles N’ Fried Chicken, and Salmon Croquettes with Southern Grits and a buttery biscuit.

Do you have a favorite?

French Toast N’ Fried Chicken with a side of Southern Grits.

You recently opened The Market by SugarJam—what do you offer there?

Yes, The Market by SugarJam was an expansion in the spring of 2022. But we have recently combined the market and bakeshop into one space. It gives our customers a chance to buy our from-scratch sweets, along with branded gifts (T-shirts, mugs, housewares/décor, and cool bags).

When you’re not doing things for SugarJam, we’d find you …

At my son’s basketball game, at the movies with my family, or hanging out with my girlfriends trying out new local jaunts.

Favorite places around Scottsdale?

White Chocolate Grill, North Italia – Kierland, STK, Toca Madera, and Ocean 44.

One thing we’d be surprised to learn about you?

I enjoy refurbishing furniture and interior decorating.

SugarJam The Southern Kitchen, 15111 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85260