'Fat Cat' looks to help groups make scratch with fundraising hoagies in New Kensington

After 30 years of slinging subs in Harmar, the Fat Cat has come home to New Kensington.

Jon “Fat Cat” Wildi bought a building at 832 Fifth Ave., not far from where, as a teen, the lifelong New Ken resident had his first job as a parking lot attendant.

There, he plans to house and grow his concession and fundraising business, which for him may replace the retail shop entirely if he can find a buyer.

“I’d like to give someone the opportunity I was given,” said Wildi, 57. “Hopefully they’ll have a 30-year run as well.”

But first, Wildi will celebrate his 30th anniversary with festivities from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at Fat Cat’s Subs, at 1401 Freeport Road. It will include an appearance by Popcorn the Clown, an airbrush artist, music and free hot dogs, cotton candy, popcorn and snow cones.

The rain date is Saturday, May 29.

A 1981 Valley High School graduate, Wildi said he got the nickname “Fat Cat” from a niece, who when she first started talking called him that because he had several cats, “and I’m fat.”

Wildi bought his business in 1991, when it was called Rudy’s Subs. He kept that name until 2010, when he changed it to Fat Cat’s to create his own identity, and started his fundraising operation.

Wildi had worked at the shop, which he said before him had five owners over 20 years. He came to buy it after stopping in for a sandwich and the then-owner, whose wife was ill, asked if he knew anyone who would want to buy the business so he could stay home and take care of her.

He kept the original menu, and added to it. Among the specialty subs is the namesake “Fat Cat,” a cheeseburger sub with capicola, egg, bacon, American and provolone cheese, fried onions, roasted red peppers, lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup, mustard and mayo. Banana and jalapeno peppers are optional but, sorry, no coupons.

Wildi started the fundraising business out of the Harmar shop, but wants to make it a full-time business and expand the product line from hoagies to include gourmet popcorn, homemade soups and pizza.

In New Kensington, Wildi plans to build his kitchen on the lower level and have production on the first floor. He expects to lease space on the upper floor for offices.

Groups and organizations get the same subs Wildi sells in his store. At a suggested selling price of $9 each, a group will make between $2.50 and $3.50, depending on the number sold.

“People wanted us to do it,” he said. “They were not happy with the quality of the other places they were getting their fundraiser sandwiches from.”

In addition to fundraising, Wildi said his concession business takes him to fairs and festivals, which he lost all but one of in 2020 because of the covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic also delayed the plans he’s now moving forward with in New Kensington.

As part of the operation, Wildi said he plans to create a vocational program and hire young adults on the autism spectrum.

“I think they’re overlooked,” he said. “We will have jobs for them.”