Sub Station II
Sub Station II is a privately-held, family-owned submarine sandwich franchise chain operating 35+ corporate and franchise locations across five southeastern US states, serving individual consumers, franchisees, and corporate/event catering clients since 1975.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1975
- HeadquartersColumbia, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Sub Station II does
Sub Station II is a privately-held, family-owned submarine sandwich franchise chain founded in 1975 by Dominic Ruffalo in Sumter, South Carolina, and currently led by his daughters Sandi Corbett (President/CEO) and Susan Owens (Vice President), along with his brothers John and Charles. The company operates 35+ corporate and franchise locations across South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee, with franchise territories also awarded in Georgia. It serves three primary customer segments: individual consumers purchasing quick-service subs and salads, franchisees buying territorial rights and operational support, and corporate/event clients purchasing catering.
The product line spans cold subs (ham, turkey, salami, bologna, and specialty combinations), hot subs (steak & cheese, grilled chicken, meatball parmesan, gyro, reuben), salads (chef, grilled chicken, tuna/chicken salad), and a formalized catering program (Box Meals, Sub Trays, and 3-foot and 6-foot Giant Subs). The operation is designed around simplicity: franchise locations do no cooking, using modern prep equipment and refrigerated ingredients combined with a specially-formulated NY-style bun baked exclusively for the brand and the signature "All the Way" dressing (lettuce, onions, oil, vinegar, oregano, salt, pepper, tomatoes). House-made tuna and chicken salads are prepared daily at participating stores. Digital infrastructure is functional rather than differentiated: a proprietary iOS/Android mobile app supports order-ahead, in-app payment, order history, and rewards; online ordering runs through Hazlnut; delivery is enabled via Uber Eats and GrubHub (which absorbed Postmates); and corporate/event catering is sold through ezCater.
The business model captures revenue through three streams. First, consumer retail sales occur at all 35+ corporate and franchise stores. Second, recurring franchise economics yield a 5% royalty on system-wide sales plus a 2% brand fund fee and a monthly technology fee, generating contractual revenue without corresponding cost-of-goods. Third, an initial $20,000 franchise fee is collected on each new unit award, with total franchise investment ranging from $188,500 to $357,000 excluding real estate. Franchisees are granted exclusive territories, collective buying power, and centralized marketing support funded by the branding fee. The corporate team is intentionally lean—seven named functional managers spanning CEO, VP, Finance & Development, Operations, Technology, QA, and Marketing—reflecting an asset-light franchise-organization model rather than a company-operated chain.
Sub Station II firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sub Station II
- Legal name
- Sub Station II, Inc.
- Website
- https://substationii.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1975
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Sub Station II is a privately-held, family-owned submarine sandwich franchise chain operating 35+ corporate and franchise locations across five southeastern US states, serving individual consumers, franchisees, and corporate/event catering clients since 1975.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sub Station II industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Quick Service Restaurants
- NAICS
- Limited-Service Restaurants (722513)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sandwiches & Subs QSR (THAFAAAD)
Keywords
Where Sub Station II is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Columbia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices39 records
Markets served
Sub Station II business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Individual Store Sales: Direct sales of sub sandwiches, salads, sides, and beverages to individual consumers at franchise and corporate locations
- Catering Services: Corporate and event catering services including box meals, sub trays, and giant subs (3-foot and 6-foot)
- Franchise Fees: Initial franchise fee of $20,000 paid by new franchisees, plus 5% royalty payment, 2% branding fund fee, and monthly technology fee
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Box Meal - Minimum 10 individual packaging |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Giant Subs - 3 Ft Sub |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Giant Subs - 6 Ft Sub |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sandwich Trays - Serves 10-12 people |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
Sub Station II product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sub Station II operates a franchise chain of submarine sandwich restaurants selling made-to-order cold subs, hot subs, salads, and catering platters on a signature NY-style bun dressed "all the way" with house-made ingredients. The chain operates more than 35 locations across South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee, with most sub preparation requiring no cooking. Beyond retail counter service, the company sells catering trays, box meals, and giant subs (3-foot and 6-foot) to corporate and event clients, and provides a mobile ordering app with rewards.
Product overview
Sub Station II is a submarine sandwich restaurant chain offering a portfolio of hot and cold subs, salads, and catering services. The core offering includes more than a dozen sandwich varieties served on a specially formulated NY-style bun, with signature toppings. The product line consists of cold subs (classics like ham, turkey, salami, bologna), hot subs (steak & cheese, grilled chicken, gyro, meatball parmesan), and salads (chef, grilled chicken, super special). Catering services feature box meals, sub trays, and giant subs (3-foot and 6-foot). Additional offerings include kids meals, side items, and beverages. The company also operates a mobile ordering app for iOS and Android enabling order-ahead, in-app payment, and loyalty rewards.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Cold Subs Selection of cold submarine sandwiches including ham, turkey, salami, bologna, and specialty combinations served on signature NY-style buns with the chain's "all the way" toppings (lettuce, onions, oil, vinegar, oregano, salt, pepper, and tomatoes) for retail and catering customers.
- Hot Subs Heated submarine sandwiches including steak and cheese, grilled chicken, meatball parmesan, gyro, and reuben varieties for dine-in, takeout, and catering customers.
- Salads Fresh salads including chef, grilled chicken, super special, garden, and tuna/chicken salad plates, with the tuna and chicken salads prepared in-house daily.
- Catering Services Catering program serving corporate clients, events, and group orders via box meals, sandwich trays, and giant subs (3-foot and 6-foot), ordered through the website, direct sales, or EZ Cater.
- Mobile Ordering App Sub Station II branded iOS and Android application that lets consumers view the menu, place orders ahead for in-store pickup, pay through the app, access order history, and earn rewards and offers at participating stores.
- Sub Station II Franchise Program Franchise offering sold to entrepreneurs with a $20,000 initial franchise fee, 5% royalty, 2% branding fund contribution, monthly technology fee, and total investment ranging from $188,500 to $357,000; franchisees receive exclusive territories, collective buying power, training, marketing support, and a registered trademark.
Quantifiable outcome
- 35+ franchise locations across Southeast US
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Sub Station II
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Sub Station II technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
Feature3 records
Sub Station II partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Uber EatsminorThird-party delivery partner at select locations enabling food delivery to customers
- PostmatesminorThird-party delivery partner at select locations enabling food delivery to customers
- Grub HubminorThird-party delivery partner at select locations enabling food delivery to customers
- Curing Kids CancercoreCharitable partnership for childhood cancer awareness and research funding. September campaign includes heart icon donations, 10% of daily proceeds donated on Thursdays at corporate locations, and corporate matching for top fundraising location.
- EZ CaterminorCatering platform partner for corporate and event catering orders
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sub Station II competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Schlotzsky's: Schlotzsky's is a sub sandwich QSR chain operating company-owned and franchised locations with a menu built around its original sandwich concept and signature breads. Comparable to Sub Station II on sub-centric product offering, franchise business model, and proprietary bread/sandwich positioning.
- Firehouse Subs: Firehouse Subs is a sub sandwich QSR chain with a strong southeastern U.S. presence and franchise model, offering hot and cold subs with proprietary recipes. Directly comparable to Sub Station II on product category, target consumer, franchise structure, and regional geography.
- Capriotti's Sandwich Shop: Capriotti's is a sub sandwich QSR franchise chain with a growing national footprint, offering a menu centered on sub sandwiches including signature recipes. Comparable to Sub Station II on product focus, franchise-driven expansion model, and emphasis on proprietary signature subs.
- Penn Station East Coast Subs: Penn Station East Coast Subs is a sub-focused QSR franchise chain specializing in hot and cold submarine sandwiches with grilled-to-order preparation. Highly comparable to Sub Station II on sub-centric menu, franchise model, and similar unit economics profile.
- Which Wich Superior Sandwiches: Which Wich is a customizable sub sandwich QSR franchise chain offering made-to-order sandwiches with a counter-order format. Comparable to Sub Station II on sub sandwich core offering and franchise-driven expansion, with a more modern and customizable positioning.
- Jimmy John's: Jimmy John's is a national sub sandwich chain focused on delivery and quick-service sub consumption, with a similar menu of cold subs and an emphasis on speed. Competes directly with Sub Station II for the same lunch and catering occasions across the Southeast and nationally.
- Blimpie: Blimpie is one of the original American sub sandwich QSR chains, operating primarily through franchised locations with a menu of hot and cold subs. Closely comparable to Sub Station II on sub sandwich heritage, franchise model, and small-to-mid scale regional operation profile.
- Jersey Mike's Subs: Jersey Mike's is a fast-growing East Coast-style sub sandwich QSR chain operating on a franchise model with similar sub-focused menu (cold and hot subs on signature bread), direct competition for the same consumer occasions and franchisee pool that Sub Station II targets. Highly comparable on product, customer base, and business model.
- Potbelly Sandwich Shop: Potbelly is a sub and sandwich-focused QSR chain with company-owned and franchised locations offering toasted subs, salads, and catering. Comparable to Sub Station II on core product offering (sub sandwiches, salads), franchise business model, and catering channel strategy.
Broad incumbents
- Subway: Subway is the largest global sub sandwich QSR chain with thousands of U.S. locations, franchise model, and broad menu of made-to-order subs. Functions as a broad incumbent competitor to Sub Station II, with substantially greater scale, brand awareness, and marketing resources.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sub Station II social profiles
Digital presenceSub Station II financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sub Station II leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Sub Station II funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sub Station II M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sub Station II
What does Sub Station II do?
Sub Station II operates a franchise chain of submarine sandwich restaurants selling made-to-order cold subs, hot subs, salads, and catering platters on a signature NY-style bun dressed "all the way" with house-made ingredients. The chain operates more than 35 locations across South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee, with most sub preparation requiring no cooking. Beyond retail counter service, the company sells catering trays, box meals, and giant subs (3-foot and 6-foot) to corporate and event clients, and provides a mobile ordering app with rewards.
Is Sub Station II a public or private company?
Sub Station II is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Sub Station II founded?
Sub Station II was founded in 1975. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Sub Station II based?
Sub Station II is headquartered in Columbia, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sub Station II make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Individual Store Sales are the primary driver. The others are catering Services and franchise Fees.
Who are Sub Station II's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Schlotzsky's, Firehouse Subs, Capriotti's Sandwich Shop, Penn Station East Coast Subs, Which Wich Superior Sandwiches, Jimmy John's, Blimpie, Jersey Mike's Subs and Potbelly Sandwich Shop. Subway is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Sub Station II have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sub Station II.
What industry is Sub Station II in?
Sub Station II's product category is Quick Service Restaurants. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFAAAD, Sandwiches & Subs QSR. Its NAICS code is 722513.