Lee's Sandwiches
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fast food |
| Founded | 1983 |
| Founder | Chieu Lê |
| Headquarters | San Jose, California , United States |
Area served | United States, Taiwan |
Key people | Chieu Le (CEO), Jimmy Le (Vice President), Tom Quách (COO) |
| Products | Vietnamese sandwiches, iced coffee, desserts |
| Revenue | US$32 million (2021) |
Number of employees | 2000 (2021) |
Lee's Sandwiches International, Inc. is a U.S.-based fast food chain specializing in Vietnamese culinary offerings, with its headquarters situated in San Jose, California. As of 2021, the company operates 61 outlets across several states and Taiwan, emphasizing European-style baguette sandwiches, Vietnamese iced coffee, and a variety of desserts. Established in 1983 by entrepreneur Chieu Lê, Lee's Sandwiches has been instrumental in introducing Vietnamese sandwiches and coffee to mainstream American audiences, influencing numerous other Vietnamese bakery chains.
Functioning as a privately held company, its leadership team includes CEO Chieu Le, Vice President Jimmy Le, and COO Tom Quách. The business model prioritizes fast casual dining with an authentic Vietnamese menu designed to appeal to an expanding demographic interested in ethnic cuisine.
By 2021, Lee's Sandwiches reported revenues near US$32 million and employed about 2,000 staff members. Its competitive strength stems from a well-recognized brand identity and strategic leadership that has driven growth domestically and internationally, notably within the United States and Taiwan. The company’s expansion reflects a focused approach on increasing market share while sustaining quality standards across its branches.
History
The origins of Lee's Sandwiches trace back to the family who emigrated from Vietnam as boat people in 1979 after previously owning a sugar refinery there. After settling in San Jose, California, Chieu Le initially worked as a cook before acquiring a food truck in 1981 that sold various foods. His brother Henry later joined him with an additional truck, establishing Lee Bros. Foodservice, Inc., which by 1985 operated over 500 food trucks primarily run by Vietnamese immigrants.
In 1983, their parents began vending bánh mì from Chieu’s truck near San Jose State University. Due to high demand and complaints from nearby eateries, the family opened the first Lee's Sandwiches store at that site. The business relocated to a larger venue in East San Jose by 1988.
On August 8, 2001, Chieu and his son Minh inaugurated their first American-style bakery-café in Little Saigon, Westminster, California. This new location expanded the menu to include deli sandwiches, coffee beverages, and desserts aimed at attracting a wider clientele. Although there were initial family disagreements regarding this new concept, it proved successful and rapidly grew throughout California. By 2005, Lee's Sandwiches became the first Vietnamese deli-café chain to offer franchises.
By 2006, Lee's had become one of the fastest-expanding fast food brands in the western United States, opening its largest store (10,000 square feet) in Houston. The brand appealed to diverse ethnic groups and generated considerable market interest.
Their international growth commenced with a joint venture café launched in Ho Chi Minh City in 2008, followed by an outlet opening in Taipei in 2015. In 2017, market analysis firm Sundale Research ranked Lee's among the twelve largest bakery-café chains nationwide. That same year saw the introduction of Lee's Coffee Roastery adjacent to a Westminster location.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic during March 2020, numerous Lee’s outlets transitioned from dine-in services to takeout and pickup options to continue operations.
Restaurants
By 2018, Lee's Sandwiches had expanded to 59 outlets throughout the United States, focusing mainly on urban areas with large Vietnamese American communities such as Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and Virginia. The original flagship location continues to operate near its initial site adjacent to San Jose City Hall. The brand has also penetrated key retail venues, including food courts at the Asian Garden Mall in Westminster, California, and Cali Saigon Mall in Garland, Texas. Significantly, Lee's Sandwiches was a pioneer among Vietnamese enterprises in securing spaces within mainstream shopping centers like Westminster Mall and Eastport Plaza in Portland, Oregon, demonstrating its deliberate approach to business expansion and influence across both ethnic and general consumer markets.
See also
- List of bakery cafés
- List of restaurant chains in the United States
- List of Vietnamese restaurants
- Phở Hòa, another Vietnamese restaurant franchise founded in San Jose