In 1965, Fred DeLuca sets out to fulfill his dreams of becoming a medical doctor. While looking for ways to pay for his education, a family friend suggests he open a sandwich shop.
How was the SUBWAY chain established? When did it all start? Fred DeLuca, 17, who recently graduated from high school, and family friend Dr. Peter Buck joins forces and opens his first sandwich shop in Bridgeport, Connecticut. At first, they called "Pete's Super Submarines" and sold 312 sandwiches on the first day.
The store, which quickly became popular with its sandwiches, was called "Pete's Super Submarine", meaning Pete's super subs, but changed its name to Subway with the opening of the fifth store in 1968.
So in 1968, the name SUBWAY was used for the first time.
Why are sandwiches made in front of the customer?
Until the late 1960s, employees would take an order and then turn their backs on the customers and prepare the sandwiches. All that changed when DeLuca picked up a hitchhiker who drove to a Subway and bragged about being able to steal soda from there. This man told him that when the employees turned their backs, he could get all the sodas he wanted from the cooler by the front door. For this reason, DeLuca changed the format shortly after.
One of their best sandwiches is named after a subway line
In 1975, the chain introduced a new sandwich called BMT, and it's today one of the most famous fast food items of all time. Filled with Genoa salami, pepperoni, and Black Forest ham, this sandwich stands for “The Biggest, Meatiest, Most Delicious” today. They were originally named after the BMT, a former New York subway line better known today as the B, D, F, J, Z, L, M, N, R, and Q trains.
Details of the story
The first restaurant opens in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in August 1965. Then, they aim to open 32 more businesses in 10 years. Fred soon learns the critical aspects of running the company and how important it is to deliver well-made, quality products, provide excellent customer service, reduce operating costs, and find the best restaurant locations. With this experience gained in the first years, the foundation of successful SUBWAY restaurants to be opened in different parts of the world is laid.
By 1974, the duo owned 16 sandwich restaurants in Connecticut. When the 32 restaurants realized they were not going to meet their goals, they started franchising and brought the SUBWAY brand into an incredible period of growth that has lasted to this day.
Today, the SUBWAY brand is the world's largest sandwich chain with more than 44,600 restaurants around the world. (2022)