TOGO’s Great Sandwiches

TOGO'S Great Sandwiches is a regional sandwich chain that serves made‑to‑order subs, wraps, and salads, with most locations concentrated on the West Coast. The brand operates primarily as a franchised system that attracts daytime workers, students, and neighborhood customers looking for a quick, familiar sandwich option in convenient, everyday locations.

The concept traces its roots to a small sandwich shop opened in 1964, evolving in the early 1970s into a California‑based, college‑area shop in San Jose known for oversized, value‑oriented sandwiches. Over time, TOGO'S built a loyal following around its generous portions and customizable hot and cold sandwiches prepared in a consistent “TOGO'S style” that regular guests recognize.

As of November 2025, TOGO'S Great Sandwiches operates approximately 145 locations, almost all in California and nearby western states. The current footprint is smaller and more regionally focused than its peak in the early 2000s, when the chain reached several hundred units across multiple western markets, but it still represents a meaningful presence in its core territories. The brand’s units are typically found in neighborhood retail centers, near universities, and along busy commuter corridors where a lunch‑heavy trade can support steady daily volume.

One notable milestone in the company’s history was its expansion from a handful of Northern California stores into a broader multi‑state network through the late twentieth century and early 2000s, often supported by private‑equity and restaurant‑group owners who provided capital and systems while franchisees handled local operations. Over the years, TOGO'S has experimented with co‑branding in some markets to secure space in busy neighborhood centers, which helped reinforce its fit within multi‑tenant retail environments. Ownership has changed several times, and the brand is now majority owned by Southfield Mezzanine Capital, reflecting continued institutional interest and access to experienced financial backing even at a moderated unit count.

During roughly the last five years, TOGO'S has shifted from an aggressive expansion mindset to a more selective, regionally focused growth strategy. The chain has been rationalizing underperforming units while concentrating on infill and replacement sites in existing trade areas where brand awareness remains strong. This has kept the system active in site selection, but with a slower, more deliberate pace tied closely to qualified franchise operators and visible neighborhood or commuter locations.

For landlords, brokers, and developers, TOGO'S functions as a recognizable quick‑service sandwich tenant that typically fills small‑box restaurant space with predictable lunch‑driven traffic and moderate parking needs. Most stores follow a traditional counter‑service format with limited seating and strong take‑out and off‑premise business, including catering, which aligns well with grocery‑anchored centers, daily‑needs strips, and campus‑adjacent sites. The brand’s long operating history in western markets, coupled with its current financial sponsorship and measured infill posture, makes it a practical candidate for second‑generation restaurant conversions and in‑line or endcap spaces where a sandwich‑focused concept can complement other service and food uses.