Sandwich Chains Face Bankruptcy: Firehouse Subs & Subway

0:00It's March 25th. Welcome to Durham News Today, powered by AI. Sandwich Chains topped the list of biggest fast food players in the United States by number of locations. Subway leads with 16,177 spots, followed by McDonald's at 13,786 and Starbucks. With 13,502, even as fried chicken spots like Chick-fil-A gain buzz, Sandwich's holds strong appeal for many Americans. A franchisee of Firehouse subs just filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. CN Holdings, based in Idaho Falls, Idaho, operates 11 locations across Utah and Idaho. They listed assets up to $100,000 and debts between $1 million and $10 million in their filing on March 23rd in Adafi, Utah Court. The company already shut down one Utah spot and plans to sell off others that are making money. They aim to restructure around their profitable stores. New restaurant openings brought lower sales than hoped, shaking up their finances.

1:04Firehouse subs itself was bought in November 2021 by Restaurant Brands International, the parent of Burger King and Popeyes for $1 billion. Still, challenges persist in the sector. Another example comes from a Subway franchisee, MTF Enterprises, which runs 43 stores in four states and filed for Chapter 11 on January 21st, 2026. They blamed aggressive cash advance loans for seizing sales revenue and causing cashflow issues. As these cases unfold, they highlight pressures even top-chains face amidst shifting consumer