At one time, Quiznos’ major source of competitive advantage was the fact that it toasted its subs.

What was the inherent danger in promoting toasted subs as the franchise chain’s primary source of competitive advantage?

In the early 1980s, Jimmy Lambatos moved from New York City to Denver to attend college. Growing up in New York, he frequently ate sub sandwiches made with crusty Italian bread. It was artisan bread, the flavorful kind with spices, oils, and vinegars. Once in Denver, Lambatos kept eating sub sandwiches, but couldn’t find a sandwich shop that used artisan bread. He caught himself one day eating a sub sandwich on a hotdog bun, and thought there has to be a better way. This occurrence led to the opening of the first Quiznos sub sandwich shop at 13th and Grant in Denver, which Lambatos opened with Todd Disner. The first Quiznos is still there—open from 10:00 am–9:00 pm Monday through Saturday and 11:00 am–8:00 pm on Sunday.

The original Quiznos was an instant hit.