Jimmy John’s is the sandwich franchise Jimmy John Liautaud started in Charleston, Illinois, in 1983.
Liautaud opened the first shop near Eastern Illinois University after borrowing money from his father. The original business focused on relatively simple submarine sandwiches made with fresh ingredients and sold at accessible prices.
The company expanded beyond its original college-town setting through franchising. Delivery became an important part of the brand’s identity, helping distinguish it from many sandwich shops that primarily served walk-in customers. Jimmy John’s later developed a large network of locations across the United States.
The chain is often confused with Jersey Mike’s or Firehouse Subs because all three are American submarine-sandwich franchises. Their founding stories are different: Jimmy John’s began in Illinois in 1983, while Jersey Mike’s traces its origins to New Jersey and Firehouse Subs began in Florida in 1994.