Whatever happened to Quiznos? The toasted sub chain turns 45

Quiznos had nearly 5,000 restaurants at its 2007 peak, plus those singing Spongmonkeys on TV. Now it’s down to well under 200 U.S. stores and betting on tiny drive-thrus.

Remember when there was a Quiznos on every other corner? Toasty subs, a weird jingle and those creepy little Spongmonkeys singing about subs?

If you’ve wondered where they all went, you’re not alone. Quiznos turns 45 this year, and the chain that once chased Subway is a shadow of what it was. It still exists, though, and it’s trying to make a comeback.

When did Quiznos start?

Quiznos opened in 1981 in Denver. Chef Jimmy Lambatos and his partner, Todd Disner, launched the first shop at 1275 Grant St. in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, according to Westword.

The big idea was a toasted sub. Lambatos told Westword they “needed something that would bake the sandwich but wouldn’t burn the bread,” so they used a conveyor oven. Hot, crunchy bread was a big deal when most sub shops served cold sandwiches.

Brothers Rick and Richard Schaden bought the small chain in January 1991, when it had 18 restaurants. They turned it into a franchising machine.

How big did Quiznos get?

Really big. At its 2007 peak, Quiznos had nearly 5,000 locations, about 4,700 of them in the U.S., according to Mashed and Parade.

The ads were a big part of the story. In 2004, Quiznos aired the Spongmonkeys, bug-eyed creatures made by British animator Joel Veitch. Adweek says the press called them “hell lemurs.” People either loved them or wanted them banned from television. Either way, everybody talked about Quiznos.

Why did Quiznos close so many stores?

A few things went wrong at once.

Franchise owners had to buy food and supplies through a company-owned distributor, and The Takeout reports that meant higher costs for them. Franchisees filed several lawsuits over those costs in the late 2000s. Quiznos denied the claims.

Then Subway put toasters in its stores and rolled out the $5 footlong. Quiznos couldn’t match that price. The recession hit next, and The Takeout reports Quiznos closed more than 1,000 locations afterward.

On March 14, 2014, Quiznos filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The plan would cut its debt by more than $400 million, the Los Angeles Times reported. At the time, it had about 2,100 locations in the U.S. and 30 other countries. It came out of bankruptcy that June.

Who owns Quiznos now?

In 2018, San Diego investment firm High Bluff Capital Partners bought Quiznos. Weeks later it bought Taco Del Mar, a Seattle burrito chain. Both now sit under REGO Restaurant Group, which Restaurant Dive says has nearly 450 restaurants across 11 countries.

Neel Patel became CEO in March 2025. He came from Church’s Texas Chicken. He told QSR Magazine, “The number one priority for me is franchisee profitability.” He also admitted, “We’re definitely a smaller portfolio than we were.”

How many Quiznos are left?

It depends on who’s counting. ScrapeHero counted 125 Quiznos in the U.S. as of Oct. 15, 2026, across 33 states and territories. Parade reported 148 U.S. stores in February, citing the company’s franchise site. QSR counted 144 in the U.S. in 2025, plus 89 in Canada.

Florida fans have a few options. ScrapeHero lists six Florida locations, and California has 13.

Many newer stores aren’t traditional sub shops. You’ll find them inside gas stations, convenience stores, airports and food courts.

Is Quiznos making a comeback?

It’s trying. In May 2025, Quiznos opened its first “Qube” in Alpena, Michigan. It’s a tiny modular building, about 650 square feet, with a drive-thru window and a walk-up window. A drive-thru in Tucson, Arizona, set the chain’s opening-day sales record in fall 2024.

The menu is changing too. Mashed reports Quiznos added flat-top grills and fryers, plus new subs like the Steakhouse Philly, with the Prime Rib sub returning. Some locations pair Quiznos with Taco Del Mar under one roof.

Quiznos even brought the Spongmonkeys back in 2023. The ad’s voiceover admitted, “It’s harder to find a Quiznos these days and we’re here to fix that.”

Lambatos, the founder, still believes in it. “It’s still a great concept and a great sandwich,” he told Westword.

So, Quiznos is still around. You just have to look harder to find one. If there’s one near you, the toasted sub you remember is still on the menu.

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

Hat Tips:

• Westword, first Quiznos and Lambatos quotes

• The Takeout (Jan. 23, 2025), supply costs and closures

• Mashed (Feb. 13, 2026), peak size and new menu

• Parade (Feb. 9, 2026), store count

• Adweek (July 28, 2023), Spongmonkeys history

• Los Angeles Times (March 2014), bankruptcy filing

• Restaurant Dive (March 27, 2025), REGO and Neel Patel

• QSR Magazine, Patel quotes, Qube and store count

• ScrapeHero (Oct. 15, 2026), current U.S. store count

• The Food Theorists, YouTube, comeback video

AI Disclosure: All articles are assigned, edited and reviewed by an experienced human editor before posting. Like most modern newsrooms, WebReef Media uses a variety of AI tools to help with accuracy and efficiency. Ways AI may be used in article creation include research, grammar, fact-checking and ideation, as well as occasional AI generated or enhanced thumbnails or graphics. No articles are generated or posted without human oversight or involvement.