Capriotti's
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fast casual dining |
| Founded | 1976 in Wilmington, Delaware, United States |
| Founder | Lois and Alan Margolet |
| Headquarters | Las Vegas , United States |
Area served | United States (33 states) |
Key people | Ashley Morris (CEO), Jason Smylie (CIO), George Chanos (Chairman), David Bloom (CDO/COO), Brent D. Erwin (CFO) |
| Products | Cold hoagies, grilled sandwiches, vegetarian submarine-style sandwiches |
Number of employees | 1,000 (2021) |
Capriotti's Sandwich Shop, Inc.—commonly referred to as Capriotti's—is a fast casual dining franchise operating within the United States. Originating in Wilmington, Delaware in 1976 through the efforts of founders Lois and Alan Margolet, the enterprise has expanded to more than 175 locations, both company-owned and franchised, spanning 33 states as of July 2025. The corporate headquarters are situated in Las Vegas, Nevada. By February 2021, Capriotti's reported revenues near US$150 million and maintains a workforce of roughly 1,000 employees. The executive leadership team features CEO Ashley Morris, CIO Jason Smylie, Chairman George Chanos, CDO/COO David Bloom, and CFO Brent D. Erwin.
History
The inception of Capriotti's took place in Wilmington’s Little Italy neighborhood, with its name paying homage to the founders’ grandfather, Philip Capriotti. Expansion beyond the original site began in 1988 with a second store in New Castle, Delaware, followed by the commencement of franchising activities in 1991. The brand made its first foray into Las Vegas with a location on Sahara Avenue in 1993. In 2004, Ashley Morris and Jason Smylie—then serving respectively as a financial advisor at Wells Fargo and a software engineer at Bechtel Nevada—opened a franchise outlet in Las Vegas. Observing that franchising yielded superior returns compared to other investment options, they partnered with local investors to acquire Capriotti's in 2008 when it operated 44 outlets. Morris currently holds the position of CEO.
Between 2008 and 2009, Capriotti's held the role of official sandwich sponsor for the World Series of Poker hosted in Las Vegas. The brand gained nationwide attention after being featured on Food Network’s Unwrapped in 2011. Further extending its footprint on the East Coast, Capriotti's inaugurated a Washington D.C. location in 2013; notably, then-Vice President Joe Biden was its inaugural customer. That year marked revenues exceeding $58 million alongside a three-year growth rate of 48%.
Capriotti's has received accolades for its strategic business approach and market impact, consistently appearing on Entrepreneur magazine’s list of top 500 franchises from 2010 through 2014. In 2014, Forbes recognized the company within its "Top 10 Best Food Franchises for Your Buck" and "America's Best Franchises" rankings. Additionally, the Sandelman & Associates Quick Track Study placed Capriotti's among the leading ten quick service restaurant concepts for overall customer satisfaction and awarded it top honors for quality and taste during that same year.
Business operations
Operating out of its Las Vegas headquarters, Capriotti's manages over 175 locations distributed across 33 states, with Nevada representing its largest market concentration. Other significant markets include Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Texas, among others. The company has demonstrated steady expansion and increasing market penetration across multiple regions. Its franchise performance has been reflected in rankings such as #293 on Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 list in 2014 and an improved position at #264 by 2016.
Products
The primary product offerings at Capriotti's consist of cold hoagies, grilled sandwiches, and vegetarian submarine-style sandwiches. The brand distinguishes itself by roasting whole turkeys each evening, hand-pulling meats on-site, and crafting proprietary meatballs and coleslaw from scratch.
One standout menu item is the Bobbie sandwich—a combination of pulled turkey paired with cranberry sauce, stuffing, and mayonnaise—which was honored as "The Greatest Sandwich in America" by AOL.com in 2009. This flagship sandwich highlights Capriotti's distinctive value proposition and serves as a key element of its competitive edge. In recognition of its culinary innovation and market presence, USA Today included Capriotti's among "10 Great Places for a Surprising Sandwich" in 2012.
Technology
Capriotti utilizes Google Glass to improve staff training by capturing videos from the user's perspective. During busy periods, management trainees wear the device to record their activities, which are later analyzed to boost their performance. Additionally, the company has implemented a mobile app loyalty program designed to increase customer engagement and encourage repeat visits.