Subway announced that it will be closing 600 more stores in the United States, leaving employees baffled and blindsided. The sandwich chain has been consistently closing stores for the last eight consecutive years. Its current store count is below 20,000 for the first time in two decades. As the largest restaurant chain in America struggles, only time can tell if Subway will be able to adapt to the changing taste buds of Americans.
Stores Continue to Close in the U.S.
Subway has been closing restaurants in the U.S. for the last eight years. The sandwich chain peaked in 2015 with about 27,000 stores, but sales have suffered due to growing competition and changes in customer food preferences. Around 7,600 stores have closed since 2016. Most recently, Subway closed 631 restaurants in 2024, making the total number of stores in the country 19,502, the lowest in two decades.
The store closures have left thousands of employees shocked and jobless. Store manager Joanne Kennedy expressed her shock to KPTV: “No warning, no heads up, no transparency, completely and totally blindsided, every one of us.”
What Happened To Healthy?
In a recent effort to satisfy the sandwich cravings of Americans again, the chain released the limited edition Doritos Footlong Nachos in April 2025. Customers say the nachos are “not worth the price” and “feels a bit Taco Bell-ish.” This cheesy mess of Dorito nachos is a far stretch from the healthy footlong sandwiches that used to symbolize the chain’s brand. The sandwich chain was previously represented by Jared Fogel, an obese college student who reportedly lost 245 pounds in one year with “The Subway Diet,” or a combination of exercising and largely changing his diet to low-fat Subway sandwiches. Suddenly, the healthy sandwich shop is pushing cheese Dorito nachos, and it is confusing customers.
Changing The Subway
Subway has implemented numerous changes over recent years in attempts to halt the downward trajectory of the company’s sales. The chain simplified its menu in order to streamline the ordering, constructing, and sales processes. It has also pushed customers to utilize their app to place orders by offering exclusive deals that are not accessible when ordering in a store. The company told CNN it would continue to review its presence in the U.S. “using a strategic, data-driven approach to ensure restaurants are in the right location, image and format and operated by the right franchisees.”
Only Time Will Tell
It is unclear whether Subway will be able to reach its full peak again in the U.S. Despite the company’s struggles, Subway remains the largest restaurant chain in the country and continues to prosper in Europe. Only time will tell if Subway can adjust to the changing tastebuds of Americans.
