Subway Closed Over 1,600 Restaurants Since 2022
Earlier this month new data revealed the largest fast food chain in the United States closed over 600 stores in 2024.
For the first time since 2015 Subway fell below 20,000 locations domestically after losing 631 restaurants last year. The chain ended 2024 with 19,502 stores in the U.S., which still puts the sandwich chain No. 1 nationally over Starbucks with 16,346 locations and McDonald's with 13,457 in the U.S.
Subway's numbers - at least in the United States - weren't just bad in 2024, though. According to new data revealed by the USA Today, Subway has closed over 1,600 restaurants since 2022.
At the beginning of 2022, Subway had 21,147 franchised locations, but that number dropped to 20,133 by the end of 2023, according to the report. With 19,502 stores by the end of 2024, Subway suffered a net loss of 1,645 restaurants over those three years.
Despite the loss of restaurants in the United States, Subway actually grew in 2024 after adding more than 1,000 new locations internationally, according to QSR Magazine.
The outlet reported that a large portion of the "growth comes from its intense international strategy. Over the past three and a half years, the brand has signed 25 master franchise agreements, which together represent commitments for more than 10,000 future restaurant openings. Seven of those agreements were inked in 2024 alone, bringing Subway into new markets like Paraguay and Mongolia."
In late 2024, Subway announced its new initiative focused on a "refresh" for the brand while attempting to attract guests.
"When Subway first launched Fresh Forward, it was more than just a remodel—it was a complete refresh and a competitive necessity for attracting guests and building pride among our restaurant teams," Mike Kehoe, Global Chief Development Officer of Subway, said in a statement. "Fresh Forward 2.0 is an exciting evolution of the design, ensuring we continue to future proof our business and deliver on our brand promises of experience and convenience for both our guests and franchisees."
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