Out of curiosity, apparently US totals are Subway 20k, Starbucks 15k, McD's 13k,...

kube-system · 2024-12-16T22:35:33 1734388533

Subway is a good reminder that location matters too. While they have a lot of locations, they are not nearly as selective in where they go.

ethbr1 · 2024-12-16T23:30:21 1734391821

Subway is also an optimization in franchise virality and typically doesn't own its own real estate.

I.e. they will let you open a Subway franchise today and me another one across the street tomorrow.

ghaff · 2024-12-16T23:40:33 1734392433

Also something of an exercise in my experience of how bad sandwich franchises can be.

ethbr1 · 2024-12-17T02:02:01 1734400921

It's interesting watching the cycle of startup -> optimization for customer value -> brand buyout -> optimization for profit.

F.ex. Blimpie (MTY 2016), Jimmy Johns (Roark 2016), Firehouse Sub (RBI 2021), Subway (Roark 2023), Jersey Mike's (Blackstone 2024)

ghaff · 2024-12-17T02:32:40 1734402760

Subway's really the only one of those I have any personal experience with. But from my perspective it's pretty much long been awful.

ethbr1 · 2024-12-18T13:26:45 1734528405

I remember Subway being somewhat better in the mid-90s. Still not great, but better. E.g. tomatoes were actually ripe