#9: Blimpie
Blimpie was founded in 1964 in New Jersey, a year before Subway. Three friends founded it, getting inspiration from the restaurant that would become Jersey Mike’s. As if this couldn’t get more American, the chain soon blew up like, well, a blimp. Blimpie ruled in the coming decades but then started seeing a decline in the early 2000s.
provided by constative.com
Ownership changes, poor branding, and other sub-chains doing it better are to blame. However, there are still over 100 locations around, mainly in truck stops. So test your luck if you see one at your local gas station!