Here’s a name that you have probably heard before. In 1964, the first ever Blimpie opened in Hoboken, New Jersey. They are famous for being the first sub sandwich chain.
Of course, nothing is going to beat Subway, but this one was America’s first favorite. In fact, at its peak, it was the third largest sub sandwich chain. Despite its success, Blimpie Subs & Salads has been struggling over the last decade.
Wag's
Did you know that Walgreen’s went into the restaurant business back in the 1970s? Yup, it’s true! Wags modeled all their restaurants on Denny’s and Big Boy, a clever move that made them pretty popular.
The thing we loved most about them was that they offered a 24-hour diner. Unfortunately, the idea didn’t catch on.
Blimpie Subs & Salads
In 2001, Blimpie had just 739 stores and $115 million in sales, down from 1,853 stores and nearly $300 million in sales.
After a while, the restaurant was purchased by Kahala, a franchising company that also bought Cold Stone Creamery in 2007.
Don Pablo's
Despite their struggle though, they have still managed to become America’s preferred choice for Mexican cuisine.
As we mentioned in previous slides, Don Pablo’s is one place you can rely on for top-of-the-line Mexican food!
Don Pablo's
“Big Tex Bold Mex.” is what Don Pablo’s described itself as. The company that owned Don Pablo’s – Avado Brands – went bankrupt twice in the last 10 years, first in 2004 and again in 2007.
The chain was sold to a restaurant group started by Avado’s bankruptcy lender, in 2008. Don Pablo’s struggled as a fast-casual restaurant, just like the Chipotle Mexican Grill.