Cousins Subs has been taking the Midwest by storm in 2019, and it’s only halfway through the year. Founded in 1972 in Milwaukee, Wis., the family-owned fast-casual sub shop now boasts nearly 100 locations across the state and is seeking additional development.
After signing an ambitious development agreement with multi-unit, multi-brand franchisees Amit and Kalpesh Patel of the OM Group to develop 40 restaurants throughout the Chicagoland area, the first two out-of-state locations opened in downtown Chicago and Lombard earlier this year and the OM Group plans to open two additional locations in the third quarter.
“Our rich Midwestern roots run through our menu, complete with sandwiches, sides and drinks made with Wisconsin-based dairy products,” said Joseph Ferguson, VP of Development for Cousins Subs. “We’re thrilled to bring our passion for fresh, fast-casual cuisine to the Chicagoland area for children, families and colleagues to enjoy.”
In the third quarter, Cousins Subs is seeking expansion into Ohio and Kentucky in the following markets:
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- Columbus, Ohio
- Dayton, Ohio
- Toledo, Ohio
- Lexington, Kentucky
- Louisville, Kentucky
“At Cousins Subs we believe quality has no substitute,” said John Palmert, Director of Franchise Sales for Cousins Subs. “We’re seeking to partner with the best multi-unit franchisees to carry out or commitment to serving second-to-none cuisine and creating value by providing exceptional community support.”
Rooted in hands-on, skills-based learning, Cousins Subs second-to-none training program sets franchisees and their crews up for success. Before opening a location, the store team participates in comprehensive classroom-based online and in-store training to get grounded in the company way and learn valuable best practices. Through the company’s fast-paced online learning portal called CousinsU, crew members participate in ongoing education to improve and exceed customer expectations.
Cousins Subs is led by a strong team of industry veterans who are dedicated to ensuring the company’s imminent growth is sustainable. Earlier this year, CEO Christine Specht refined her responsibilities by appointing Jason Westhoff to the role of President. This change enables her to focus on building the brand’s long-term vision while cultivating relationships within the franchise system. Simultaneously, Cousins Subs added two members to its high-impact leadership team – J.J. Grube, Vice President of Finance, and Alan Lundeen, Senior Director of Operations and Talent.
“The changes to our leadership team were purposeful to ensure we achieve even greater success for the brand,” added Palmert. “As we seek opportunities to grow the company, it’s important to have individuals on our leadership team who are grounded in operational excellence and can make game-changing decisions to ensure our franchise partners are successful.”
As Cousins Subs seeks growth opportunities, it will remain committed to seeking continual improvement, treating everyone as family and serving as a valuable asset in every community it’s proud to be a part of.