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| Cousins Subs | |
| Company type | Private |
| Industry | Sandwich shopFranchising |
| Genre | Fast casual |
| Founded | 1972; 53 years ago (1972) inMilwaukee,Wisconsin |
| Founders | Bill Specht James Sheppard |
| Headquarters | Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin |
Number of locations | 100+ as of October 2019[update] |
Area served | |
Key people | Christine Specht-Palmert CEO Jason Westhoff President[1] |
| Products | Sandwiches Salads Other food products |
| Website | cousinssubs.com |
Cousins Submarines, better known asCousins Subs, is an Americansub sandwich shop with nearly 100 locations as of December 2024.[2] It was founded in 1972 by cousins Bill Specht and Jim Sheppard and is a regional chain with restaurants inWisconsin andIndiana.[3]
Cousins Subs was founded inMilwaukee,Wisconsin in 1972 by cousins Bill Specht and James Sheppard, who could not find a suitable sub sandwich option in Milwaukee like they had when they lived inNew Jersey.[4]
Specht and Sheppard opened their first restaurant in Milwaukee, which was located at 60th Street and Silver Spring Drive.[5] After opening the shop, they partnered with a local baker to make their own bread,[6] highlighted in the slogan "Better Bread, Better Subs". A large segment of customers during Cousins' early years were former East Coast residents.[7]
In 2009, Cousins Subs announced it would put an increased focus on the local side of the business.[8] During theGreat Recession, Cousins Subs closed over 40 locations to better focus on quality.[9]
In 2013, Cousins Subs established The Make It Better Foundation,[10] which focuses in improving the welfare and quality of life in the communities, particularly in health and wellness, hunger, and youth education.[11]
Christine Specht-Palmert, daughter of co-founder Bill Specht, took over as CEO in 2015 when her father retired.[12]
Cousins Subs announced another rebranding in 2016, which included expanding its footprint throughout the Midwest;[13] remodeling all locations to its Milwaukee Sub Shop to unify the brand;[14] in look and feel, updating its exterior design,[15] logo, packaging and uniform designs;[16] and digitally enhancing the in-store experience for its guests.[17] Along with the remodel, Cousins Subs struck sponsorship agreements with theMilwaukee Bucks,Wisconsin Timber Rattlers,Green Bay Packers andWisconsin Badgers.[18]
As of October 2019, there were approximately 100+ Cousins Subs locations throughoutWisconsin,Illinois, andIndiana. Cousins Subs continues to develop new locations throughout the Midwest with franchise partners focused on multi-unit development.[19]
In August 2018, Cousins announced their expansion into theChicago market with 40 new locations opening by 2025.[20] As of July 2021, there were six locations in the Chicago area.[21] All locations in the Chicago area have since closed.
Also in 2018, Cousins announced it would re-enter theTwin Cities market ofMinnesota, after shuttering stores in 2015.[22] The initial plan is to open about six stores per year, but as of August 2021, none have come to fruition.[23]
