Bowling Green’s Houchens Industries, which holds franchises for Subway, Sonic, Cinnabon and Schlotzsky’s, is adding to its list of eateries.

Which Wich Superior Sandwiches, a Texas-based fast casual restaurant chain specializing in sandwiches and salads, will open Nov. 15 in the Houchens-owned Shell convenience store at 553 Duntov Way near the National Corvette Museum.

A second Which Wich location, planned for a new Crossroads IGA being built on Three Springs Road, is scheduled to open late in 2018.

Dustin Griffiths, director of real estate for Which Wich, said these will be the first forays into southcentral Kentucky for the chain, which has 430 locations in 39 states. The only current Which Wich locations in Kentucky are three restaurants in Louisville. Griffiths said the company is working on new locations in Owensboro and Elizabethtown as well.

Founded in Dallas in 2003, Which Wich has been franchised since 2005.

In 2007, it was ranked as the fastest-growing restaurant chain concept with 50 operating stores or less. In 2009, the chain ranked as the sixth fastest-growing concept in the industry, according to Restaurantchains.net.

Griffiths said the chain continues to grow by some 50 stores per year.

Which Wich is distinguished by its unusual ordering system. Customers use red Sharpie markers to mark up pre-printed menus on sandwich bags, selecting sandwiches from 10 categories and also selecting toppings. The sandwiches are delivered in the personalized bags, which customers are encouraged to decorate and then hang on a community wall.

Griffiths said these first two Which Wich locations in Bowling Green could be followed by others in the Bowling Green area.

“We hope to do more with the Houchens group,” he said. “Houchens does a great job with their brands.”

Houchen Industries, which celebrated its 100th anniversary this year, started with a single grocery store in Barren County. It is now a holding company that ranks among the largest employee-owned companies in the nation.

Houchens, which operates the Buehler’s Buy Low, Food Giant, IGA Express, Crossroads IGA, Piggly Wiggly and Save-A-Lot brands, has branched out into manufacturing, warehousing, construction, insurance and financial services.

Among the Houchens subsidiaries in the local area are Pan-Oston, Stewart Richey Construction, Sheldon’s Express Pharmacy, Southern Recycling and Scotty’s Contracting and Stone.

Houchens has more than 18,000 employees and annual revenue of more than $3 billion.

– Follow business reporter Don Sergent on Twitter @BGDNbusiness or visit bgdailynews.com.