Remember These 7 Sandwich Chains That Grew During American Dining’s Golden Age

From Maryland to California

Jerry’s Subs & Pizza began in 1954 in Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C. It served New York-style pizza, stuffed subs and what it called “world famous cheesesteaks.” The chain grew to more than 100 locations in the 1990s before restructuring and bankruptcy affected it. Three Maryland locations remain.

Two chains built on sandwiches

TOGO’s was founded in 1964 by university students Tom Neumann and Gordon Reed. Its name combined their names with the idea of food “to go,” since the original space had no seating.

After Reed sold the business, he moved to San Jose and opened a small shop called Sandwiches To Go. TOGO’s later reached around 350 locations across the country and now operates around 150. One fan wrote, “My love of Togo’s is indefensible and fueled purely by nostalgia.” Schlotzsky’s opened in Austin in 1971 with a single offering, “The Original.” It featured meats, cheeses, vegetables, black olives, mustard and signature sauce on an 8-inch sourdough bun.

Peak years and smaller footprints

Schlotzsky’s reached around 800 locations worldwide at its peak; it now has fewer than 300. A fan described it as a “Funny name / serious sandwich.” Au Bon Pain began in Boston in 1976, founded by a French baking equipment manufacturer. After ownership changed in 1978, the business shifted from equipment to baked goods and later became a café chain.

Au Bon Pain stores clustered in metropolitan areas, reaching around 300 locations worldwide in the 2010s. The article says 25 U.S. locations remain.

Quiznos’ toasted-sub boom

Quiznos began in 1981, serving hot toasted subs. Its conveyor-belt oven became a familiar part of the chain’s appeal. In the early to mid-2000s, Quiznos grew to nearly 5,000 restaurants across the United States. It remains in operation, with around 150 locations today.