Jump to content

Cousins Subs

From Alfawiki
Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Cousins Subs, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 25 July 202521 sources
Cousins Submarines, Inc.
Cousins Subs
Company typePrivate
IndustrySandwich shop Franchising
GenreFast casual
Founded1972; 54 years ago (1972) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
FoundersBill Specht
James Sheppard
HeadquartersMenomonee Falls, Wisconsin
Number of locations
100+ as of October 2019
Area served
Key people
Christine Specht-Palmert
CEO
Jason Westhoff
President[1]
ProductsSandwiches
Salads
Other food products
Websitecousinssubs.com

Cousins Submarines, operating under the trade name Cousins Subs, is a U.S.-based submarine sandwich chain with close to 100 outlets as of December 2024.[2] Established in 1972 by cousins Bill Specht and Jim Sheppard, the brand primarily serves customers in Wisconsin and Indiana.[3]

History

Founded in 1972 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Cousins Subs was created by Bill Specht and James Sheppard with the goal of bringing the familiar New Jersey-style sub sandwich experience to the Midwest.[4] Their inaugural shop launched at the intersection of 60th Street and Silver Spring Drive.[5] Collaborating with a local bakery, they developed a unique bread recipe marketed with the phrase "Better Bread, Better Subs." Many early patrons were former residents of the East Coast.[6]

During the economic downturn known as the Great Recession, Cousins Subs shuttered more than 40 outlets to concentrate on enhancing quality and strengthening its presence in local markets.[7] By 2009, the company prioritized reinforcing its community-based business approach.[8]

In 2013, the organization established The Make It Better Foundation, targeting community support programs focused on health improvement, hunger relief, and youth education.[9]

Following Bill Specht’s retirement in 2015, his daughter Christine Specht-Palmert took over as CEO.[10]

A major rebranding initiative was launched in 2016 to stimulate growth throughout the Midwest. This campaign involved redesigning all restaurant locations to reflect the Milwaukee Sub Shop aesthetic, refreshing logos, packaging, uniforms, and improving digital engagement with customers.[11][12][13][14][15] The brand also secured sponsorship deals with prominent regional sports franchises such as the Milwaukee Bucks and Green Bay Packers.[16]

By October 2019, Cousins Subs had expanded to more than 100 stores throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana through franchise agreements emphasizing multi-unit development.[17]

In August 2018, plans were announced to enter the Chicago market with an ambition to establish 40 locations by 2025; nevertheless, all Chicago-area outlets have since ceased operations.[18][19]

Additionally, Cousins declared intentions in 2018 to return to the Twin Cities market after closing its stores there in 2015; however, no new outlets had opened as of mid-2021.[20][21]

See also

External links

  1. ↑ Ruggless, Ron (Mar 14, 2019). "Cousins Subs' CFO promoted to president". Nation's Restaurant News. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Cousins Subs and Donald Driver Deliver Holiday Cheer to Children in Need". 2024-12-19.
  3. ↑ http://www.cousinssubs.com/home/legal/. Retrieved March 15, 2011. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ↑ http://archive.jsonline.com/business/cousins-subs-co-founder-specht-retires-b99512235z1-305918321.html. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ↑ http://www.jsonline.com/story/money/columnists/steve-jagler/2016/10/08/jagler-cousins-subs-ceo-raises-stakes/91634982/. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ↑ https://www.johnsonville.com/news/cousins-subs--johnsonville-owners-converse-all-things-wisconsin/. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ↑ http://www.nrn.com/operations/cousins-subs-shrinks-push-grow. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. ↑ https://onmilwaukee.com/dining/articles/christinespecht.html?page=2. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ↑ "Cousins Subs Make It Better Foundation: Supports Madison-area nonprofit to uplift community". {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  10. ↑ http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/blog/table_talk/2015/06/christine-specht-succeeds-father-as-ceo-of-cousins.html. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. ↑ https://www.qsrweb.com/news/cousins-subs-makes-sweeping-changes-to-refresh-brand-returns-to-original-logo/. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. ↑ http://archive.jsonline.com/business/cousins-subs-undergoes-rebranding-remodeling-initiative-b99726581z1-379717791.html. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. ↑ http://www.wisn.com/article/milwaukee-s-cousins-subs-launches-rebranding-effort/6274745. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. ↑ https://www.biztimes.com/2016/industries/food-beverage/cousins-subs-launches-rebranding-strategy-to-promote-future-growth/. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  15. ↑ http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2016/05172016-cousins-subs-to-rebrand-44-year-old-business.asp. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  16. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named :0
  17. ↑ https://onmilwaukee.com/dining/articles/christinespecht.html?page=1. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  18. ↑ Trotter, Greg (6 August 2018). "With new franchise deal, Wisconsin-based Cousins Subs will open 40 locations in Chicago area".
  19. ↑ https://www.fastcasual.com/news/cousins-subs-opens-6th-location-in-chicagoland/. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  20. ↑ https://www.hometownsource.com/sun_current/community/bloomington/cousins-subs-plans-return-to-minnesota/article_b5485b42-0eb1-11e9-8e1c-5b168cc0d8fd.html. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  21. ↑ https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-lifestyle/what-happened-to-cousins-subs-coming-back-to-minnesota. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
Retrieved from "https://www.alfawiki.org/index.php?title=Cousins_Subs&oldid=10690"