An expansion-minded California sandwich chain plans to open its first Colorado Springs location next week, which also will be its first in the state.

Sourdough & Co., based in suburban Sacramento, is targeting a Thursday launch at 3624 Centennial Blvd. The sandwich shop will occupy a nearly 1,400-square-foot space in a King Soopers-anchored shopping center northwest of Centennial and Fillmore Street.

The chain plans two more Colorado Springs-area locations that would open around April 2025.

Both would be part of King Soopers-anchored shopping centers that are under construction — one southwest of Colorado 83 and North Gate Boulevard in the Flying Horse development on the Springs’ north side and the other southeast of Mesa Ridge Parkway and Syracuse Street in Fountain, south of town.

Founded in 2010, Sourdough & Co. has about 70 locations and another 35 are envisioned to open by year’s end, said company president Nick Warraich. Most locations are in California, but Sourdough is branching out to Nevada, Oregon and Washington, along with Colorado, he said.

Colorado Springs and Colorado were appealing expansion targets because of their strong demographics and growth, Warraich said.

“It’s a decent family income (area) and a lot of people are moving there,” he said. “And it’s just a beautiful state. We love to be there.”

Sourdough & Co.’s menu includes ham, roast beef and other traditional sandwiches, along with specialty sandwiches such as a French dip and smoked brisket. The menu also features soups and salads.

The chain bills itself as a healthy food concept; its preservative-free, signature sourdough bread is one of the healthiest breads around — vegan-friendly, more nutritious, easier to digest, better for blood sugar control and with a taste that surpasses regular breads, Sourdough’s website proclaims.

Sourdough also uses premium meats and cheeses for its sandwiches, Warraich said.

Despite competition from numerous local, regional and national sandwich shops, Warraich said he believes there’s room in the Colorado Springs market for Sourdough & Co.

“We don’t add any additives, we don’t inject anything,” he said. “There’s a freshness. Our bread is vegan; there’s no dairy in our bread. Everything is fresh, healthy. It’s just a healthy choice and I think people are changing their health habits and going more towards healthier (food).”

Franchisees Harry Mangat of California, who operates a Sourdough & Co. location in that state, and Dilraj Singh Saran, a Colorado Springs 7-Eleven owner, will operate the Springs-area locations.

Mangat said Warraich, a close friend for many years, interested him in the Sourdough concept and he opened his California store in September 2023.

He said he’s been to Colorado multiple times and was attracted to Colorado Springs as one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities.

“We saw business potential there,” Mangat said.

“The average, median income of people here is really good, the demographics are very fine,” he said.

He also believes in the quality of Sourdough & Co.’s food, especially in comparison to competitors.

“Any sandwich that I tried, it couldn’t match up to the taste we have,” Mangat said.

The Centennial Boulevard location is near the upscale Kissing Camels residential area and other northwest-side neighborhoods, while the King Soopers store will help attract customers to the shopping center, he said.

The location will have dine-in seating for about 30 people, along with a few patio seats, though about 70% of Sourdough sales are takeout orders, Mangat said.

He and Saran have franchise rights for all of Colorado, Mangat said. After they become established in the Colorado Springs area, they envision more locations along the Front Range, likely starting in Boulder and moving on to Castle Rock, Denver and Aurora.

“We want to make sure by the time we reach Denver, people will know who we are,” Mangat said.