Quiznos began as Quiznos Sub in Denver in 1981.
Jimmy Lambatos and Todd Disner founded the company after Lambatos, a chef, developed a toasted-submarine-sandwich concept. The first restaurant opened in Denver, Colorado, and the business initially operated under the name Quiznos Sub.
Toasting the sandwiches became a central point of differentiation. Customers could choose fillings and have the bread heated before serving, a process that helped the chain stand out among submarine-sandwich competitors. Quiznos later shortened its public name to Quiznos.
The company expanded rapidly through franchising during the 1990s and early 2000s. Its history is often confused with that of other sandwich chains because several major brands were founded in different decades and cities. Quiznos’ defining origin, however, is the 1981 Denver opening and its toasted-sub format.