Blimpie

Origins and early growth

The Blimpie story began on May 16, 1964, in Hoboken, New Jersey, where three former high school friends from Saint Peter's Prep, Tony Conza, Peter DeCarlo, and Angelo Baldassare, opened the first shop. The trio was inspired by the success of a submarine sandwich operation in Point Pleasant, later known as Jersey Mike's Subs, and they believed a similar concept would thrive in Hoboken. The unique name originated from founder Tony Conza, who disliked the term 'sub' for its greasy spoon connotations and found the Philadelphia term 'hoagie' unfamiliar to local residents, so after scanning a dictionary, he settled on 'Blimp', a word he felt sounded most like a sandwich, which was then adapted to Blimpie. For its first decade, the company focused on establishing its brand and expanding through franchising in the northeastern United States, capitalizing on the growing popularity of submarine sandwiches during this period. The business model proved successful enough to support steady growth throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s, building a reputation on preparing sandwiches with fresh sliced meats and cheeses, a point of differentiation that would become central to its marketing and established the operational template for future franchisees.

Strategic shifts and financial struggles in the 1980s

Although the Border Café did reasonably well at first, this shift in focus did not do the company much good, and while Conza was distracted, competitor Subway, founded a year after the first Blimpie's, began an expansion drive that pushed it far ahead as the world's foremost submarine sandwich chain. Conza opened two more Border Café locations in 1986 in Woodstock, New York, and on Manhattan's Upper West Side, but the concept was a money loser, and despite $4.5 million in revenues for 1987, the company showed a net loss of $347,800 for the year. That same year, only 30 new Blimpie restaurants were opened, and company stock was in free fall, bottoming out as low as 15 cents per share, which prompted Conza's interest in his core business to begin to return. Over the next couple of years, Atlanta became the company's biggest target for new Blimpie's franchises, and in 1987, the company celebrated the opening of the 50th Blimpie's store in the Atlanta area by giving away 25,000 free sandwiches to customers there, while also launching a quality control program aimed at cleaning up its 140 New York restaurants, which had long been subpar, and in 1989, Blimpie began testing a new low calorie menu.

Aggressive expansion and nontraditional growth in the 1990s

By the beginning of 1992, there were Blimpie restaurants in 27 states, the chain passed the 500 unit mark, and the company changed its name to Blimpie International, Inc., then began trading its stock on the NASDAQ exchange in the spring of 1993. Around that time, the company began to more aggressively advertise, doubling its marketing budget to about $2 million per year and launching a new campaign including television, radio, print, and point of purchase materials that introduced the chain's new tag line: 'Simply Blimpie for fresh sliced subs,' with some television spots featuring people on the street struggling to repeat the tongue twisting phrase. Blimpie system sales reached $132 million by 1993, and Blimpie International earned $1 million on $12 million in revenue, and by autumn of that year, the chain had 670 outlets with improved marketing support from the parent company reducing the rate of franchise failures from 10 percent to 3 percent, and in some cases, such as in the Chicago market, Conza allowed franchisees to divert their 6 percent annual franchise fee to advertising. As the 1990s continued, Blimpie devised a new concept for growth by placing franchises in nontraditional locations, starting with convenience stores whose proprietors sought ways to compensate for declining cigarette sales, and Blimpie's was appealing because a real kitchen was not required and startup costs were relatively low, as little as $35,000, compared with other fast food operations. Among the early nontraditional sites were the Des Moines, Iowa based Kum & Go convenience store chain, Texaco Food Marts in Mississippi, the food court at the University of Texas, and the restaurant section of the first Home Depot superstore in Atlanta, and in 1994, the company launched several new concepts including the movable 'Blimpie kiosk' for stadiums and fairs, a special refrigerated case for convenience stores, and the 'Blimpie Bakery' aimed at boosting early morning business.

Blimpie reached two major milestones in 1995. The chain passed the 1,000 outlet mark that year. Blimpie International also opened its first international location in Stockholm, Sweden. However, the opening of new outlets in the US was slowing and overseas growth occurred at a slow pace. By 2001, there were only 61 overseas locations in 15 countries.

Blimpie launched a new diversification effort in the late 1990s. The first initiative came late in 1997 when the company acquired a 75 percent stake in Maui Tacos. This fast food chain had six units in Hawaii and featured traditional quick service Mexican food with a Hawaiian twist, such as meat marinated in pineapple and lime. Under Blimpie's majority ownership, Maui Tacos was soon introduced to the mainland.

By 2001, there were 15 Maui Tacos units in nine states and the District of Columbia. After almost two years of in house development, Blimpie launched Pasta Central in 1999. Unlike Maui Tacos, Pasta Central was not a standalone concept. It was created as a co branding vehicle, coupled with Blimpie Subs & Salads. Co branding emerged as a growth vehicle in the late 1990s and involved the placement of two restaurant brands within a single unit.

Financial decline, privatization, and subsequent acquisitions

Net income fell steadily throughout the second half of the 1990s, with a main factor being that the subfranchiser rights to the Blimpie Subs chain had largely been sold by the mid 1990s, thus halting a steady stream of income, and by the turn of the 2000s, Blimpie International was struggling with investors showing little interest and the company's stock price sagging. Seeing little benefit in being a publicly traded firm, Blimpie joined the ranks of restaurant companies fleeing the public market, and in October 2001 a private investor group led by Jeffrey K. Endervelt, owner of the 44 unit Blimpie of California subfranchise, agreed to buy Blimpie International for $25.7 million. The transaction was completed in January 2002, whereupon Endervelt took over as chairman, president, and chief executive officer, and Conza, a partner in the investor group, remained in an advisory capacity, taking the company private. In 2006, Kahala Corp. acquired Blimpie, and it became the tenth brand franchised by that franchisor, and by 2011, the number of Blimpie locations had fallen to 739 stores, and revenue was down to just over $110 million. In 2016, MTY Food Group Inc. struck a deal valued at more than $300 million (U.S.) to acquire Arizona based Kahala Brands Ltd. and its 2,900 locations in 25 countries, bringing Blimpie under the corporate umbrella of a major Canadian fast food franchisor.

Contemporary status and international footprint

As of 2026, Blimpie continues to operate but its footprint has contracted significantly, with estimates suggesting there are as few as 200 locations remaining, a stark contrast to its peak of roughly 2,000, and many remaining outlets are in nontraditional settings such as airports, highway travel plazas, and convenience stores. The chain has largely exited many traditional retail markets, and by 2017, it no longer had a location in its original hometown of Hoboken, a shocking development that symbolizes the brand's struggles, and reports in 2026 indicate the chain is struggling to stay in business with locations continuing to close. The brand had a presence in Kuwait around 2009, but by 2020 most of those locations had shut down, leaving only a location at the Kuwait International Airport, and as of 2023, there were two Blimpie restaurants in Singapore, one in KINEX and one in 313Somerset, but these shut down in May 2023. The limited Canadian presence is a result of the 2016 MTY acquisition, though this has not led to a widespread expansion within Canada, with any locations likely found in travel oriented or convenience focused venues similar to those in the United States.

Franchise model, menu, and brand identity

Blimpie operates primarily through a franchising model, promoting itself as the oldest continuously operating sub sandwich franchise in the United States, with a 2026 estimated total investment to open a franchise ranging from $74,780 to $422,200 and a franchise fee of $11,900. The brand highlights its fresh sliced meats and cheeses, made to order sandwiches, and a menu that includes classic subs, hot sandwiches, salads, and sides, with the historical appeal for franchisees, particularly in nontraditional venues, including relatively low startup costs and no requirement for a full commercial kitchen. The menu has evolved over the decades, testing a low calorie menu in 1989 and introducing concepts like the Blimpie Bakery to boost morning business, while co branding experiments like Pasta Central have come and gone, leaving the core submarine sandwich offering. The company has also offered catering services and a customer rewards program to drive loyalty, and its historical marketing centred on the 'Simply Blimpie for fresh sliced subs' tagline, which was featured in a memorable advertising campaign where people struggled to repeat the phrase. The chain's identity is deeply tied to its founding story and its role in popularizing franchised sub shops, even as its market presence has dwindled against larger competitors.

Questions about Blimpie

Is Blimpie still in business in 2026?

Yes, Blimpie is still in business as of 2026, but its presence has dramatically declined from its peak. Estimates suggest the chain operates approximately 200 locations, a fraction of the nearly 2,000 it had at its height. Many remaining outlets are in nontraditional settings like airports, travel centres, and convenience stores rather than standalone restaurants. The brand continues to offer franchise opportunities, though it is reportedly struggling to stay in business with locations continuing to close.

What is Blimpie known for and what was its famous tagline?

Blimpie is historically known for being one of the pioneer submarine sandwich chains in the United States, founded in 1964. Its signature offering is fresh sliced subs, marketed for decades with the famous tagline 'Simply Blimpie for fresh sliced subs,' which was introduced in a major 1993 advertising campaign. The chain helped popularize the concept of franchising sub shops and was an early adopter of placing restaurants in nontraditional locations like convenience stores and big box retailers. It holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating sub sandwich franchise in the country, a key part of its brand identity.

How much does it cost to open a Blimpie franchise and what are the requirements?

According to 2026 information, the total investment to open a Blimpie franchise ranges from $74,780 to $422,200, with an initial franchise fee of $11,900 paid to the franchisor. The wide range in cost accounts for variables like real estate, construction, equipment, and initial inventory depending on the location type. The company has historically promoted its model as having lower startup costs, especially for nontraditional venues, where a full kitchen is not required and costs could be as low as $35,000 in the 1990s. Prospective franchisees must meet the company's financial and operational criteria to be approved.

Who owns Blimpie now and what is the Kahala and MTY connection?

As of 2026, Blimpie is owned by Kahala Brands, a portfolio company of fast food franchises based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Kahala itself was acquired in 2016 by MTY Food Group Inc., a major Canadian franchisor, in a deal valued at over $300 million US. Therefore, the ultimate corporate parent of Blimpie is the Canadian MTY Food Group. The day to day operations and franchising of the Blimpie brand are managed under the Kahala Brands umbrella within this larger corporate structure, which includes nearly 2,900 locations across 25 other brands.

When and where was the first Blimpie restaurant opened?

The first Blimpie sub shop was opened on May 16, 1964, in Hoboken, New Jersey. It was founded by three former high school friends and classmates: Tony Conza, Peter DeCarlo, and Angelo Baldassare. The founders were inspired by another submarine sandwich operation. They chose the name Blimpie because the word 'blimp' sounded like a sandwich to them.

How many Blimpie locations were there at its peak and how many are there now?

Blimpie once had about 2,000 locations at its peak. By 2011, the number of locations had fallen significantly to 739 stores. Recent estimates suggest the chain now has as few as 200 locations. Many of the remaining restaurants are reportedly in nontraditional locations like airports.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Novello Desserts desk. Last updated 2026-10-21.