The History of Quiznos

Unlike many fast-food restaurants, Quiznos was created by a chef. Quiznos founder Jimmy Lambatos worked as the executive chef at a fine dining establishment called the Colorado Mine Co., which was frequented by big-name celebrities in the 1970s. In 1978, he opened his own business and began experimenting with subs, something he already had plenty of knowledge of due to growing up in New York City. In 1981, he founded Quiznos. The first restaurant was located in Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood and still serves some of Lambatos’ original menu items today. The chain quickly gained popularity, thanks in large part to the quality of its subs. In 2007, the chain had a total of 4,700 locations, but due to various issues, by 2017 there were just 400 Quiznos restaurants operating in the United States. As the chain declined in the U.S., Quiznos began extending their reach internationally. Today there are a limited number of Quiznos locations in the United States and the chain also has an international presence.