Miami Grill
| File:Miami Grill logo.png | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Founder | Gus Boulis |
| Headquarters | Fort Lauderdale, Florida |
Number of locations | 31 |
Area served | Florida, South Carolina, Nevada |
Number of employees | 600 |
| Website | mymiamigrill |
Miami Grill, once known as Miami Subs Grill, is a privately owned American restaurant chain based in Florida. It maintains roughly 30 outlets, mainly situated within Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. The menu offers selections such as wings, Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, and Gyros, complemented by co-branded items from Arthur Treacher's and Nathan's Famous hot dogs—brands historically connected to Miami Grill through previous corporate affiliations.
Founding
Before establishing Miami Grill, Gus Boulis expanded the Mr. Submarine chain (currently known as Mr. Sub) in Canada from a single location to over 200 units prior to his retirement in Florida. In 1980, he launched a Mr. Submarine outlet in Key West that eventually transformed into Miami Subs Grill, broadening its menu to emphasize made-to-order dishes.
Expansion
Throughout the 1990s, Miami Subs Grill pursued rapid growth, initially within Florida and subsequently across the United States. The brand targeted both conventional and unconventional venues including schools, highway rest stops—particularly along Florida's Turnpike—and airports. Its South Beach-inspired pastel-colored exteriors with pink and blue neon lighting paired with tropical-themed interiors helped establish a distinctive presence in the fast-casual dining sector.
Co-branding agreement
In 1998, Miami Subs Grill entered into a co-branding partnership incorporating Arthur Treacher's fish and chips into its restaurant concept. However, a proposed merger between the two companies was abandoned after Arthur Treacher's stock price experienced a significant decline.
Purchase and sale
Nathan's Famous acquired Miami Subs Grill in 1999 for $14.4 million, bringing together Miami Subs and Arthur Treacher's under one corporate umbrella. At the time of purchase, the chain operated approximately 175 units. Operational challenges followed due to management turnover, leading Nathan’s Famous to divest Miami Subs in 2007 to private investment firm Miami Subs Capital Partner 1 Inc for $3.3 million.
International expansion and partnership
By 2007, nearly 60 Miami Subs locations were open, including one in Turkey; however, plans for an additional 40 outlets did not come to fruition. Expansion attempts in Romania also remained unrealized.
On July 24, 2012, entertainer and businessman Armando Cristian Pérez (Pitbull) acquired an ownership interest in Miami Subs, increasing the brand’s visibility.
In February 2013, Miami Subs revealed intentions to expand into Middle Eastern GCC nations—Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Qatar, and Bahrain—but these outlets were never established.
Transition to Miami Grill
Starting in 2014, the company altered its strategic direction by adopting the Miami Grill brand, with the goal of revitalizing its image in the marketplace and facilitating growth initiatives.
Upcoming developments
In April 2020, Miami Grill revealed a revised business approach that involved eliminating traditional dining areas and introducing two drive-thru lanes, a walk-up ordering window, and designated mobile order pickup zones at every outlet. This modification responds to shifting customer behaviors and seeks to improve operational effectiveness amid declining demand for dine-in services.