HUNGRY HOBO

What HUNGRY HOBO does

Hungry Hobo is a privately held, founder-owned quick-service restaurant chain founded in 1973 by Jim Gende, Ray Pearson, Joe Gende, and Tom Spero, who converted three Little King stores into the first Hobo locations in Moline, Davenport, and Rock Island. The company operates 12 dine-in and drive-thru locations concentrated entirely in the Quad Cities metropolitan area spanning Rock Island County, Illinois and Scott County, Iowa. Its core product is freshly made-to-order submarine sandwiches sliced to order on bread baked daily in-house, complemented by grilled sandwiches, baked potatoes, salads, soups, the signature Hobo Chili, and bakery items including large-format cakes and cookies.

The business runs a hybrid go-to-market across physical retail, digital, and catering. Direct consumer channels include in-store dining, a TryPerdiem-powered online ordering system, iOS and Android mobile apps, three third-party delivery partners (DoorDash, Grubhub, and local Good2GoQC), and a loyalty and e-gift card program managed through Square. A secondary catering segment serves groups and events with party sandwiches (2-/4-/6-foot sizes at $49.99-$118.99), $9.99 box lunches, party soups, chili, and large cakes and cookies. Revenue is generated almost entirely through unit-priced transaction fees across these channels, with no franchise, licensing, or third-party advertising revenue streams. The company employs approximately 80 people, sells branded merchandise, and has not raised external funding nor pursued franchising.

Name

HUNGRY HOBO

Legal name

The Hungry Hobo

Website

https://hungryhobo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Hungry Hobo is a privately held, founder-owned quick-service sandwich chain founded in 1973, operating 12 dine-in and drive-thru locations exclusively in the Quad Cities metro of Illinois and Iowa. It serves individual consumers and catering clients with made-to-order sandwiches, baked potatoes, soups, salads, and in-house baked goods sold in-store, online, and via mobile app.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Quick-Service Restaurant

NAICS

Limited-Service Restaurants (722513)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Sandwiches & Subs QSR (THAFAAAD)

Keywords

• Quick service restaurant
• Sandwich shop chain
• Fast casual dining
• Catering services
• Deli subs

Headquarters

HQ city

Rock Island

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. In-store and online food sales: Revenue from walk-in customers and online orders through website and mobile app for sandwiches, baked potatoes, soups, chili, sides, drinks, and bakery items.
2. Catering services: Revenue from bulk orders including party sandwiches (2-foot, 4-foot, 6-foot), box lunches ($9.99 each), party soups and chili, party sides, party cakes ($59.99), and party cookies ($29.99).
3. Gift cards: E-gift cards sold through Square platform. Gift cards do not decrease balance for non-use.
4. Merchandise sales: Sale of branded apparel including t-shirts ($14), polo shirts ($22), visors ($8), and baseball caps ($8).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Hungry Hobo operates a 12-location quick-service restaurant chain in the Quad Cities area, serving sliced-to-order deli sandwiches, hot and grilled submarines, baked potatoes, soups, chili, salads, sides, and bakery items baked daily in-house. It also provides catering for events (party sandwiches, box lunches, party cakes and cookies) and sells branded merchandise and e-gift cards through its website, mobile app, and third-party delivery partners.

Product overview

Hungry Hobo is a quick-service restaurant chain founded in 1973, operating 12 locations across the Quad Cities area of Illinois and Iowa. Its core product is a made-to-order submarine sandwich shop offering sliced-to-order and grilled sandwiches on fresh bread baked daily in its own bakery, complemented by baked potatoes with various toppings, chef-prepared soups and chili, fresh shredded lettuce salads, and bakery desserts. The company sells its products directly through in-store ordering, a native mobile app (iOS/Android), and a desktop/mobile web ordering system. It also offers catering services for group events through a separate catering menu featuring party sandwiches (available in 2-, 4-, and 6-foot sizes), box lunches, party soups, chili, cakes, cookies, and sides, all with free delivery for qualifying orders. A loyalty rewards program and e-gift cards are managed through Square. On the merchandise side, the company sells branded apparel including t-shirts, polo shirts, hoodies, visors, and baseball caps. Hungry Hobo's menu items are also available through third-party delivery platforms DoorDash, Grubhub, and Good2GoQC.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Deli Sandwiches (Cold, Hot, Grilled) Sliced-to-order cold submarines, hot submarines (Roast Beef-Cheddar, Reuben, Ham Swiss, Baby Bo), and grilled sandwiches served on fresh bread baked daily in the Hobo bakery. Offered in Regular and King sizes for individual dine-in, pickup, and online ordering customers at the Quad Cities locations.
• Baked Potatoes Baked potatoes topped with options such as Plain, Sour Cream, Melted Cheddar, Bacon Bits, Broccoli-Cauliflower, Chili-Chopped Cheddar, Ham-Melted Cheddar, and Taco Tato (chili, shredded lettuce, chopped cheddar, diced tomatoes, taco chips). Served in-store at the Quad Cities locations.
• Soup and Hobo Chili Chef-prepared daily soups and the signature Hobo Chili, served in a regular cup or bread bowl. Available as a standalone menu item or as part of combo packs at the Quad Cities locations.
• Salads Fresh shredded lettuce salads including Grilled Chicken Salad, Taco Salad, and Chef Salad. Served in-store at the Quad Cities locations.
• Bakery Desserts (Cakes and Cookies) Notably large cakes and cookies baked daily in the on-site Hobo bakery, available as desserts or as part of combo packs. Sold in-store and through catering.
• Beverages and Drinks Fountain drinks in Small (15oz), Medium (22oz), and Large (32oz); milk (white or chocolate); Aquafina bottled water; juices; Celsius Energy Drinks; Rock Star Punched; and Bubbl'R. Served in-store and via combo packs.
• Sides (Cheese Curds, Fries, Chips, etc.) Side items including Cheese Curds, Waffle Fries, Cheddar Fries, Chips, Mild Nachos, Supreme Nachos, Potato Salad, Applesauce, and Pudding. Available in-store and as combo-pack add-ons.
• Combo Pack Make-it-a-meal bundle combining a fountain drink and a side (Cheddar Fries, Waffle Fry or Cake, Chili/Soup, Cheese Curds, Chips, Potato Salad, Cookie, Applesauce, or Pudding) for an added charge. Available in-store and online.
• Catering — Party Sandwiches Large-format party sandwiches on extra-large fresh-baked French bread, served with lettuce, tomato, and mayo on the side. Available in 2-Foot (serves 10-12, $49.99), 4-Foot (serves 20-24, $88.99), and 6-Foot (serves 30-36, $118.99) sizes. A $8 surcharge applies per 2-foot section for Roast Beef. Sold for events and group orders.
• Catering — Box Lunches Pre-assembled box lunches at $9.99 each, including a choice of five sliced-to-order sandwiches, four chips, and two huge cookies from the Hobo Bakery. Orders of 5-9 carry a $10 delivery fee; 10+ box lunches qualify for free delivery with 24-hour notice.
• Catering — Party Soups and Chili Bulk soup and chili catering, including Famous Hobo Chili (serves 10-15) and assorted soups such as Chicken Tortilla, Broccoli & Cheese, and Cheddar Baked Potato. Served with crackers, bowls, spoons, and a reusable ladle.
• Catering — Party Cakes 16" x 20" freshly made cakes available in chocolate or pumpkin spice, priced at $59.99 each. Requires a minimum 1-day advance notice. Sold for events and parties.
• Catering — Party Cookies 14-inch freshly baked chocolate chip cookies frosted with a ring around the edge, priced at $29.99 each. Requires a minimum 1-day advance notice. Sold for events and parties.
• Catering — Party Sides Catering side options including Hobo potato salad, canned sodas, bottled water, and popular chip selections. Sold for events and group orders.
• Hungry Hobo Mobile App Native mobile application for iOS and Android combining online ordering, in-app payment, e-gift card management, and a loyalty rewards program in a single interface.
• Online Ordering (Web) Desktop and mobile web-based ordering system powered by TryPerdiem that allows customers to browse the full menu, customize orders, and place orders for in-store pickup at the Quad Cities locations.
• Loyalty Rewards Program Rewards program managed through Square's loyalty platform. Customers earn points on purchases (with weekly promotions such as Double Points Monday) that can be redeemed for rewards. All points expire one year from the date earned.
• E-Gift Cards Digital gift cards available for purchase online via Square. Customers can also check balances of physical or legacy gift cards (including cards beginning with 4626 or 4646) through the Square gift card portal.
• Branded Apparel and Merchandise Branded Hungry Hobo merchandise including a White 100% Cotton T-Shirt ($14), Dry-Tek Polo Crew Shirt ($22), Hoodie Sweatshirt (currently sold out), Twill Sandwich Visor ($8), and Twill Baseball Cap ($8). Sold through the company's gift cards and gear page.

Quantifiable outcome

• Voted Best Deli and Best Deli Sandwiches
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• DoorDashcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDoorDash is a third-party delivery partner for The Hungry Hobo, enabling customers to order delivery through the DoorDash platform in addition to direct ordering.
• GrubhubcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGrubhub is a third-party delivery partner allowing customers to order Hungry Hobo menu items for delivery through the Grubhub platform.
• Good2GoQCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGood2GoQC is a local delivery partner serving the Quad Cities area, offering Hungry Hobo's everyday menu items for delivery.
• SquarecoreTechnology or IntegrationSquare provides the e-commerce platform for gift card sales and the loyalty program for The Hungry Hobo, handling transactions and customer rewards points.
• ShopifycoreTechnology or IntegrationShopify provides the online e-commerce platform that enables The Hungry Hobo to sell products and services online.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves18 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Subway: The dominant national submarine sandwich QSR chain; directly competes with Hungry Hobo on price, menu overlap, and made-to-order subs across the Quad Cities market.
• Firehouse Subs: National sub chain positioned on hot and cold submarine sandwiches, directly overlapping Hungry Hobo's menu categories and target lunch/dinner occasions.
• Jimmy John's: National sandwich QSR chain with a similar made-to-order sub and made-to-order positioning; directly competes with Hungry Hobo for lunch traffic in overlapping trade areas.
• Jersey Mike's Subs: Fast-growing East Coast-origin sandwich chain built on fresh sliced-to-order sub sandwiches, closely mirroring Hungry Hobo's core offering and value proposition.
• Quiznos: National toasted-sub QSR chain that competes for made-to-order sandwich occasions; comparable to Hungry Hobo on menu format and quick-service dining model.
• Schlotzsky's: Sandwich-focused chain known for its original sandwich on fresh-baked bread, soups, and salads; comparable to Hungry Hobo on menu mix and dine-in/takeout model.
• Potbelly Sandwich Shop: Counter-service sandwich chain known for toasted subs and in-shop baked goods; highly comparable to Hungry Hobo on fresh-baked daily, made-to-order positioning.
• Capriotti's Sandwich Shop: Regional sub chain with a catering-heavy model (party platters, box lunches); closely comparable to Hungry Hobo's mix of in-store sandwich sales and group/catering orders.

Broad incumbents

• Panera Bread: Fast-casual national chain emphasizing fresh-baked daily bread, soups, and sandwiches; a comparable bakery-driven, soup-and-sandwich concept adjacent to Hungry Hobo's menu.
• Arby's: National QSR incumbent with a broad menu including sandwiches; competes for lunch traffic and catering occasions in the same broad quick-service category as Hungry Hobo.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HungryHobo11
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC2OpRbiN67xWmepxMLAP3KQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/hungryhobo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hungry-hobo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HUNGRY HOBO