Subway Attempts 'Upscale' Format With Subway Café

Subway is developing a more upscale concept that would function as a cross between a sandwich shop and a coffee bar. The concept is currently being tested in 15 locations and Subway is hoping to add 10 more locations by the end of the year.

Subway Café offers baked goods and a range of coffee products from Seattle's Best, which is also served in current Subway franchises.

Presently, Subway has about 34,600 stores in 98 countries and is continuing the grow. Since January, the chain has opened 700 outlets in 50 countries and 43 U.S. states. In total, Subway plans to open 2,000 outposts in the U.S. this year. The sandwich chain hopes to have 100 stores in Brooklyn alone by the end of the year.

Now that's a lot of $5 foot longs.

Comments

[ToastedPecan]

06:04 AM on 06/01/2011

Following the trends lead: Subway chain turns "Upscale Cafe" shop like all the rest. Vinegar

[ToastedPecan]

06:01 AM on 06/01/2011

Following the trends lead: Subway chain turns "upscale Cafe" shop like all the rest. I like the idea, however...Vinegar and coffee...plus the sub-sandwich smell that haunts every Subway chain..would really turn my stomach looking at Chocolate...Will it work?

[GraceNotes]

01:53 PM on 05/31/2011

I hope they improve the quality of tuna in their tuna salad. I was disappointed the last time I was there.

[illustratorblog]

09:52 AM on 05/31/2011

Make sure you include free wi-fi and I'm there!

[osofar]

05:20 AM on 05/29/2011

Is this a Sub-statution?

[Francojet]

02:56 PM on 05/28/2011

This seems like the old "lipstick on a pig" saying. The bread has become intolerable at just about every store. Even the tuna-fish, which was actually pretty good for quite some time, has become reliably bad. I avoid unless i'm on the road and there is nothing else around.

[clemson l]

02:16 AM on 05/28/2011

No thanks I will stick with Panera's Bread.

[samuel liu]

10:43 AM on 05/27/2011

HOW ABOUT IMPROVING ITS FARE

[AngusC]

05:26 AM on 05/27/2011

Subway's food has become subpar and they have oversaturated their market with franchises.
In a 5 mile radius in my town, which is a town where people drive not walk, there are 10 stores.
In a 2 mile radius, there are 4 stores.
They will just give a franchise to anyone with a warm body and a few dollars in their pockets.

[mm1970]

06:22 PM on 05/26/2011

What I like about Subway is the large selection of veggies to put on your sandwich. But the rest sucks. I love local sandwich shops and the quality of their ingredients, but then they load the sandwich down with so much meat and cheese that it's easily an 800 calorie sandwich. Tasty sandwich for under 500 calories please.

[Epilef2000]

05:28 PM on 05/26/2011

Mcdonalds who sells highly overrated...substandard meat...got a great deal of people with their mccafe..and i eat only vegie sandwiches at Subway..the worlds largest franchise ..

but hopefully more US business loose their cheap-plastic lok and try to bring a bit more class and relaxation to the eating experince..

[Vidman0904]

05:04 PM on 05/26/2011

The food at Subway is worse than terrible. I wouldn't feed that crap to my dog. I have been there while friends got food and I just had to laugh when I looked the 'grilled chicken". Painting lines on that mechanically seperated mess doesn't make it look or taste any better.

[Z trufflesniffer]

04:00 PM on 05/26/2011

Still wouldn't get me into a Subway.

[irishdoc]

03:11 PM on 05/26/2011

Hey, Subway CEO....fix the food first. Seriously, this is why no one comes and eats there anymore. If putting the word Cafe next to the companies title makes you give me more than a loaf of bread with a slice of turkey inside then you might have a chance.

[Pierogi kid]

01:31 PM on 05/26/2011

well I hoped they changed the smell, as every time I pass a subway there is this particular oder that i do not find pleasent or appealing