New owner of Fat Cat's Subs looks to build on Harmar shop's solid foundation

Michelene Saliba sees a bit of chemistry in cooking food.

“A lot of it is chemistry,” she said. “It’s following a recipe. You can experiment with it and create new things. I like sharing my food with people.”

Saliba, 25, of East Deer has a full menu to experiment with now that she is the new owner of Fat Cat’s Subs in Harmar.

Previously general manager, Saliba bought the business from the “Fat Cat” himself, Jon Wildi, who is retiring — sort of — after more than 30 years in the sub business.

Wildi is continuing to run Fat Cat’s Fundraisers in his hometown of New Kensington and the concession business Orange Tent Events.

Wildi was looking to sell the Harmar business for four years and turned down offers from several people before Saliba, who Wildi said he has known all her life, asked about it.

“When she approached me, I was, ‘Absolutely, make it happen.’ Whatever it takes to make it happen, we’ll make it happen,” he said. “She knows the business inside and out. She has all the skills.”

Wildi and Saliba have similar stories in their journeys to owning the business. He was a couple of years older, 27, when he bought what was then Rudy’s Subs in 1991 and previously had worked there. He changed the name to Fat Cat’s in 2010.

Saliba started working part time at Fat Cat’s when she was 16 in 2013, rising to assistant manager in 2019 and general manager in 2020.

“He wanted to give somebody the opportunity he was given,” Saliba said. “I showed interest, and I stuck around. I like this place a lot and the people that come in.”

A New Kensington native and 2015 graduate of Valley High School, Saliba earned a bachelor of science in biology and chemistry at Carlow University in 2020.

Saliba was never sure what she would do with her degree but has long wanted to own a business. She and Wildi spent months working out the deal.

“He wanted out, and I wanted to stay,” she said. “I didn’t really see it coming, but I’m happy it worked out the way it did. I’m enjoying every minute of it. It’s all mine now.”

Saliba has started making some changes, but doesn’t plan to rename the shop anytime soon. Upgrading technology has been among her first efforts, including a new point-of-sale system already in place. She also plans to get digital menu boards and do some redecorating.

“You’re going to see things change every time you come in here,” she said.

The menu, with its offerings of subs, sandwiches, burgers, fries, soups, salads and pizza, will stay the same for the most part. That includes the signature Fat Cat sub, a cheeseburger sub with capicola, egg, bacon, American and provolone cheese, fried onions, roasted red peppers, lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup, mustard and mayo.

“I have to keep it. I can’t take that off the menu,” she said. “They’re a pain to make but pretty popular.”

When she looked to take things off the menu, Saliba said she found almost everything is ordered enough to keep its place. The Gobbler, a turkey sub with fries and gravy, and hot sausage were removed.

She wants to add some new things to the menu, including homemade soups.

“I have a lot of ideas. They’re not all translated to paper yet,” she said.

Saliba said business is pretty good at the shop, which sits along Freeport Road between the busy Harmar business district by the turnpike interchange and Cheswick. If customers can find their way to her and past the nearby chain fast-food outlets, Saliba said, they’ll get better quality and more for their money.

“We get a lot of regular customers,” she said. “That’s something I appreciate.”

At one time down to five employees, Saliba said she is back up to 12. But not one to sit in the office, Saliba still takes orders, cooks food and makes deliveries.

“I hope to make it as successful as possible. I want it to get so busy we can’t even handle it and open a second location,” she said. “I hope it becomes really popular.”

Wildi said he could not be prouder.

“It’s her time to shine,” he said.