What was the original name of the sandwich chain Subway when it opened in 1965?

Subway originally opened in 1965 as Pete’s Super Submarines. The first shop was started in Bridgeport, Connecticut, by Fred DeLuca with a loan from family friend Peter Buck.

The name connected the business to its submarine-shaped sandwiches. In 1968, the company adopted the shorter name Subway, which was easier to remember and better suited to expansion.

Subway’s franchise model helped it grow rapidly because individual operators could open shops using standardized ingredients, equipment, branding, and procedures. The chain later became one of the world’s largest restaurant systems by unit count.

A common mix-up is calling the original business simply “Subway.” That name was not used at launch; it became the brand identity several years later. The first shop’s Connecticut origin is also why Bridgeport is central to Subway’s early history.