The storefront of the original Pete’s Subway

The Subway® Story

Where it All Began

The Subway® story began in 1965 when 17-year-old Fred DeLuca asked his family friend, Dr. Peter Buck, a nuclear physicist, for advice on how to pay his college tuition. With an idea to open a submarine sandwich shop and an initial $1,000 investment from Dr. Buck, the two formed a business partnership that would ultimately change the landscape of the quick service restaurant industry.

The partners opened their first restaurant in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in August of 1965, where they served freshly-made, customizable and affordable sandwiches to local guests.
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Creating a Strong System

By 1974, Fred and Dr. Buck owned and operated 16 submarine sandwich shops throughout Connecticut. But, to take the brand even further and reach their 32-restaurant goal in time, the pair decided to begin franchising — a business model that launched the Subway® brand into a period of incredible growth and popularity.

Guiding Principles

As the Subway® brand grew over the decades, Fred and Dr. Buck remained true to three core values and principles, which still guide the brand to this day:
  • Always provide exceptional service to valued guests
  • Offer high-quality, flavourful menu options at a great value
  • Never stop evolving to improve the Subway® brand

Subway® Today

Today, Subway® has grown to become one of the world’s largest restaurant brands, serving customisable and signature sandwiches, wraps and salads to millions of guests, across more than 100 countries in more than 37,000 restaurants every day. Subway® restaurants are owned and operated by a franchisee network that includes more than 20,000 dedicated entrepreneurs and small business owners – who are all committed to delivering the best guest experience possible in their local communities.

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Our Tribute to Fred DeLuca

From his humble beginnings to the creation of a sandwich empire.

WATCH HIS STORY

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Our Tribute to Dr. Peter Buck

His legacy will continue to live on through the brand he worked so hard to build.

WATCH HIS STORY

Our Future

At Subway®, good just isn’t good enough. We are constantly innovating, focused on better food and a better guest experience — from menu refreshes to an even better in-restaurant and online experience.

A glass sphere held over the Subway logo

Subway® Timeline

Take a peek at our company history and see how we've grown to become one of the world's largest restaurant brands.

Pete’s Super Submarines

The 17 Year Old Entrepreneur

How did the SUBWAY® chain start? Where did it all begin? A recent high school graduate, 17 year old Fred DeLuca, and family friend Dr. Peter Buck team up to open their first submarine sandwich shop in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Originally called “Pete’s Super Submarines”, they sell 312 sandwiches in the first day. The average cost of a sub was between 49 cents and 69 cents.

Subway

The Dream Team

Partners DeLuca and Buck formalise their partnership with Doctor’s Associates Inc. The name is derived from Dr. Buck, who holds a Ph.D., and the fact that DeLuca had initially hoped to earn enough money in the sandwich business to pay his college tuition and eventually become a doctor.

Pete’s Subway

Welcome to Subway®

The Subway® name is used for the first time.

Map of CT

Fast Forward to Franchising

DeLuca and Buck decide that franchising is the best way to kick start the brand’s growth. The first franchised Subway® restaurant opens in Wallingford, Connecticut.

Old BMT sign

Biggest, Meatiest, Tastiest

The brand introduces its flagship sandwich, the classic BMT. Originally named for the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit system, the build is later referred to as “Biggest, Meatiest, Tastiest”, filled with Genoa salami, spicy pepperoni, and Black Forest Ham. The first Subway® restaurant located outside of Connecticut also opens in the state of Massachusetts.

Old BMT sign

It’s Snak Time

The “Snak” sub sandwich is introduced. The name is later changed to the “6-inch”.

Subway

Picking Up Speed

The development of Subway® restaurants picks up, with the 200th restaurant opening in Renton, Washington.

Sandwich Artist taking bread out of oven

Fresh Out of the Oven

Subway® restaurants introduce freshly baked bread at US locations.

Early Middle East store

Expanding Overseas

The brand opens its first international location in the Middle Eastern nation of Bahrain. Party Platters and the Subway Club® sandwich are also introduced.

Subway

Bienvenido a Puerto Rico

Subway® restaurants celebrate the opening of its 500th restaurant and the opening of its first restaurant in Puerto Rico. The Steak and Cheese sub and wheat bread are added to the menu.

Outside Location, with “1,000” call-out

Growing, Growing, Growing

Continuing its rapid growth, Subway® reaches a milestone of 1,000 restaurants now open, and the brand opens its first locations in Hawaii and The Bahamas.

Subway

5,000th Subway® Restaurant!

Subway® reaches its goal of 5,000 restaurants with an opening in Texas. The first Subway® restaurant also opens in Mexico.

Screenshot of old subway.com

Subway® on the Web

Subway.com officially launches and restaurants open in Colombia, Denmark, Guatemala, Kuwait, Martinique, Nicaragua, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

Subway® launches in Finland

Finland's first Subway® restaurant was opened on 7.7.2000 on Annankatu in Helsinki.

Would You Like That Toasted?

Would You like That Toasted?

Toasted subs are introduced for guests looking for a warm, craveable sub.

Subway

Subway® expands in Finland

By 2010, Subway® had expanded to more than 80 stores in Finland.

35000

35,000th Subway® Restaurant!

The 35,000th Subway® restaurant opens.

Finland’s 100th Restaurant!

Finland's 100th Subway® store opened 1.11.2012 to Kuopio shopping centre Matkus.

Finland’s First Subway® Drive-In

Finland's first Subway® drive-in restaurant was opened in Suutarila, Helsinki.

Finland's first Subway® campus restaurant

Subway® opened Finland's first campus restaurant in Otaniemi at the end of April.

Fred DeLuca Dies

Subway® co-founder Fred DeLuca dies on September 14 at age 67. Subway® also celebrates its 50th anniversary by breaking the Guinness World Records® title for most people making sandwiches simultaneously, with 1,481 people making a sandwich.

Subway® Finland launches remote takeaway

First Subway® Finland store joins Wolt platform to offer remote ordering for Takeaway.

Fresh Forward

Subway® launches its Fresh Forward design, featuring a new, modernised look and feel, and improved guest experience. Finland's first Fresh Forward restaurant was opened in Vaasa's Vaasanpuistikko at the beginning of December.

Vegan Sub

Finns were the first in Europe to enjoy Subway's new vegan bread. Subway® launched a new, completely vegan Vegan Delite bread in mid-January to meet the consumers’ wishes.

Subway® Welcomes New CEO

Subway® names John Chidsey as CEO, kickstarting the brand’s transformation journey.

Eat Fresh® Refresh

Subway® kicks off its brand transformation journey with the Eat Fresh® Refresh, the biggest change in Subway® history, improving almost every core menu item, digital and guest experience. By August, the historic refresh results in the strongest restaurant sales since 2013.

Tribute to Dr. Buck

Dr. Peter Buck Dies

Subway® mourns the passing of Dr. Peter Buck, the co-founder and initial investor in Subway, who died on 18th November at the age of 90.

100th Subway® restaurant in Finland offers home delivery

100th Subway® restaurant in Finland offers home delivery via Wolt

Subway Rewards nouseva

New App and Loyalty Program launches

Subway® launches new app with remote order and a renewed loyalty program.