Tubby’s Grilled Submarines

Tubby’s Grilled Submarines is a Detroit‑area sandwich shop brand that focuses on grilled subs, cheesesteaks, and classic deli sandwiches served in a straightforward counter-service format.[2] Guests typically come for hot, made-to-order subs prepared on the grill, along with a mix of cold sandwiches, sides, and beverages that work for everyday lunch, dinner, and basic catering needs.[2] The brand commonly trades under the names Tubby’s Sub Shop and Tubby’s Grilled Submarines and presents itself as a neighborhood sandwich option rather than a polished national fast-casual concept.[2]

The company dates back to 1968, when the first Tubby’s opened in the Detroit metropolitan area and built a loyal following around grilled steak-and-cheese subs.[2] Over time, the business added franchised and company-operated locations across metro Detroit and other parts of Michigan, positioning Tubby’s as a locally rooted alternative to larger national sandwich chains.[2] Growth often followed suburban development around Detroit, with shops commonly landing in strip centers, endcaps, and small freestanding buildings along auto-oriented corridors.[2]

As of December 2025, public information indicates that Tubby’s operates a modest regional footprint concentrated in Michigan, with particular density in the Detroit metro area and nearby suburban communities.[2] Exact store counts are not consistently disclosed, but the chain continues to appear across multiple municipalities through a mix of franchised and independently operated locations.[2] This scale keeps Tubby’s firmly in the mature regional category rather than in the realm of national players with hundreds or thousands of units.[2]

Over roughly the last five years, Tubby’s has behaved more like a steady legacy brand than a rapid-growth platform, favoring selective infill in its established trade areas instead of a formal multi-state rollout.[2] New stores tend to appear where the name already has recognition and where occupancy costs and operating economics support a smaller-format food tenant.[2] The result is a pattern of measured expansion that preserves the brand’s Detroit roots while slowly extending its presence in surrounding Michigan communities.[2]

For landlords, brokers, and developers, Tubby’s Grilled Submarines functions as a regional quick-service tenant that fits cleanly into neighborhood centers, community strip centers, and second-generation restaurant spaces.[2] Its counter-service model, smaller footprint, and grill-focused menu align well with grocery-anchored centers and other daily-needs retail, helping generate repeat lunch and dinner traffic without the infrastructure of a full-service restaurant.[2] In Midwestern centers where the brand is active, the combination of long operating history and regional name recognition can support occupancy stability and add variety to the quick-service lineup.[2]