Remember when every mall had a Quiznos and every airport had an Au Bon Pain? Those days might be numbered for many sandwich chains that once seemed unstoppable. While some spots like Jersey Mike’s keep growing, others are quietly shutting down stores across the country. The sandwich business isn’t as simple as slapping meat between bread anymore, and some big names are learning that the hard way. Rising costs, changing tastes, and tough competition are forcing beloved chains to make some pretty drastic moves.
Quiznos went from thousands to barely hanging on
Walking into a Quiznos today feels like finding a hidden treasure – mainly because there are so few left. This chain that made toasted subs popular had over 4,700 locations during its peak in the 2000s. Now? There are fewer than 150 Quiznos restaurants left in the entire United States. That’s a drop that would make any business owner break out in a cold sweat.
The problems started piling up faster than sandwich orders during lunch rush. High supply costs squeezed franchisees until many couldn’t afford to stay open. Then the 2008 recession hit like a sledgehammer, forcing the company to close hundreds of locations in just two years. By 2014, Quiznos filed for bankruptcy with $875 million in debt. Former franchise owners still share horror stories online about how the corporate office seemed to care more about collecting fees than helping restaurants succeed.
Subway keeps closing stores despite being everywhere
Here’s something that might shock anyone who sees Subway on every street corner: they’re actually shrinking fast. The world’s largest restaurant chain closed 631 locations in 2024 alone, dropping below 20,000 domestic restaurants for the first time in two decades. That’s like losing almost two stores every single day of the year. Even giants can stumble when they get too comfortable.
The main problem seems to be that Subway put too many stores too close together, creating a sandwich civil war where franchisees fight each other for customers. Add in steep fees – franchisees pay 8% royalties plus 4% for advertising – and it’s easy to see why some owners are walking away. The company sold to private equity firm Roark Capital for $9.6 billion in 2023, ending decades of family ownership and signaling big changes ahead.
Panera ditched fresh bread for frozen alternatives
Nothing says “we’re in trouble” quite like a bakery-cafe chain giving up on fresh baking. Panera Bread built its reputation on making fresh bread daily using a special sourdough starter from San Francisco that they’ve used since 1987. But now they’re planning to close all their fresh dough facilities by 2027, switching to frozen bread that gets finished in stores instead.
This move comes alongside Panera’s biggest menu makeover ever and the closure of several underperforming franchise locations. The chain claims this switch will streamline operations, but it feels like watching a pizza place decide to use frozen dough. The shift away from fresh baking represents a fundamental change to what made Panera special in the first place. Sometimes cost-cutting measures end up cutting the heart out of what customers loved most.
Au Bon Pain lost almost all locations
Au Bon Pain used to be the sophisticated choice for travelers and office workers looking for something better than typical fast food. The French-inspired chain peaked at over 300 locations and seemed like it would be around forever. But today, there are only about 30 Au Bon Pain restaurants left in the entire country, mostly tucked away in airports where competition is limited.
The decline accelerated after Panera bought the chain in 2017, though problems started much earlier. The company was losing millions of dollars back in the 1990s, including a $4.36 million loss in 1996. Even after remodeling stores and changing management, Au Bon Pain couldn’t find its footing in an increasingly crowded market. The chain closed its last Boston location in 2024, abandoning its home base after decades of trying to make things work.
Which Wich lost two-thirds of its stores
Which Wich Superior Sandwiches seemed to have everything figured out when it launched in 2003. Their customization options and signature bags made ordering fun, and they grew to over 430 locations by 2018. The concept was simple but effective: lots of choices, good ingredients, and a ordering system that felt different from other sandwich shops.
Then the pandemic hit like a wrecking ball. Reduced foot traffic devastated dine-in focused restaurants, and Which Wich saw its store count drop to about 130 locations today. That’s a loss of roughly 300 restaurants in just six years. Franchisee exits, expired leases, and the general strain on small businesses all contributed to the decline. Many customers still remember Which Wich fondly, but nostalgia doesn’t pay rent on empty restaurant spaces.
Blimpie shrunk from 2000 stores to maybe 200
Blimpie started strong in 1964 when three partners borrowed $2,500 to open their first sandwich shop in Hoboken, New Jersey. They modeled their business after Mike’s Submarines (which later became Jersey Mike’s) and grew to around 2,000 locations by 2002. The franchise model seemed to work perfectly, with steady growth and satisfied customers across the country.
But success can be dangerous when it leads to bad decisions. Blimpie tried expanding into convenience stores, kiosks, and carts, thinking they could put their sandwiches anywhere people gathered. These nontraditional locations failed miserably, forcing the company to close 155 underperforming spots in just one year. Poor management decisions and overexpansion in the wrong places turned a successful franchise into a cautionary tale about growing too fast.
Così filed for bankruptcy twice
Così brought a taste of France to America with its signature flatbread made in stone-hearth ovens using a generations-old recipe. Starting in Paris in 1989 and coming to New York City in 1996, the chain grew to over 100 locations across 16 states and even expanded internationally. The bread was genuinely special, and customers developed strong loyalty to the brand.
Unfortunately, having great bread wasn’t enough to overcome serious business problems. Così filed for bankruptcy not once but twice – first in 2016 and again in 2020. Overexpansion led to too many underperforming restaurants, and the company couldn’t figure out how to make money consistently. Today, there are only about 15 locations left in the United States. The chain now focuses mainly on catering instead of walk-in customers, basically admitting that the restaurant model wasn’t working.
Eegee’s filed for bankruptcy despite local popularity
Some restaurant chains struggle because they lack identity, but Eegee’s had the opposite problem. This Arizona-based chain was beloved for its frozen fruit drinks and toasted sandwiches, growing from a single vending truck in 1971 to 35 brick-and-mortar locations by 2022. Local customers were passionate about the brand, especially those signature frozen Eegee drinks that became synonymous with beating the desert heat.
Even local love couldn’t overcome mounting financial pressures. Rising inflation, labor shortages, and high maintenance costs pushed Eegee’s into Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2024. The company owed about $3.1 million in unsecured debts and was fighting legal battles with distributor Sysco. Three locations closed in September 2023 alone, and the brand’s footprint dropped to 25 restaurants. Sometimes being a regional favorite isn’t enough when the numbers don’t add up.
Jerry’s Subs went from 130 locations to just three
Jerry’s Subs & Pizza used to be a Maryland and Virginia institution with 130 locations serving up cheesesteaks and subs that locals swore by. The chain had that neighborhood feel that made customers feel like regulars even on their first visit. For decades, Jerry’s seemed like a permanent part of the mid-Atlantic food scene, the kind of place that would always be around.
By 2015, Jerry’s was fighting for survival, and today only three locations remain open. The rapid decline from 130 to 3 restaurants represents one of the most dramatic collapses in the sandwich chain world. Dedicated fans still make pilgrimages to the remaining locations, hoping to keep the tradition alive through their visits and orders. It’s a reminder that even beloved local chains aren’t immune to the harsh realities of the restaurant business.
The sandwich chain landscape keeps shifting as customer expectations rise and operating costs squeeze profits from every angle. What worked for decades suddenly doesn’t work anymore, leaving once-popular chains scrambling to adapt or slowly fading away. Next time someone mentions grabbing a sandwich, there’s a good chance their favorite spot from years ago might not be there anymore.
