Capriotti's

Last updated
Capriotti's Sandwich Shop, Inc.
Company type Private
Industry Restaurants
Genre Fast Casual
Founded1976;48 years ago (1976)
Wilmington, Delaware, US
FoundersLois and Alan Margolet
Headquarters Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Number of locations
112 [1]
Area served
United States
Key people
Ashley Morris (CEO)
Jason Smylie (CIO)
George Chanos (Chairman)
David Bloom (CDO/COO)
Brent D. Erwin (CFO)
Products
RevenueIncrease2.svg US$150 million (FEB 2021) [1]
Number of employees
About 1,000 [1]
Website www.capriottis.com

Capriotti's Sandwich Shop, Inc. (also called Capriotti's) is a fast casual restaurant chain in the United States. [2] The restaurant chain was founded in Wilmington, Delaware in 1976. [3] Capriotti's has 112 company-owned and franchise locations in 27 states. [1] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Contents

History

Capriotti's was founded in Little Italy, Wilmington, Delaware in 1976. [3] [4] [7] The restaurant is named after the founders' grandfather, Philip Capriotti. [3] [8] In 1988, the second restaurant location opened in New Castle, Delaware. In 1991, Capriotti's began franchising their restaurants. [9]

Counter area of a Capriotti's in Rosslyn, Arlington, Virginia Interior and counter area, Capriotti's, Rosslyn, Virginia.jpg
Counter area of a Capriotti's in Rosslyn, Arlington, Virginia

In 1993, the first restaurant location in Las Vegas, Nevada was opened on Sahara Avenue, near Las Vegas Boulevard. [10] In 2004, Ashley Morris and Jason Smylie opened a franchise in Las Vegas. At the time, Morris was the youngest financial adviser at Wells Fargo. [10] [11] [12] [13] Smylie was a software engineer at Bechtel Nevada. Morris and Smylie were also investors in the housing market and made the decision to invest in a franchise after learning that the return on investment was higher than anything they were looking at investing in. [13] In 2007, Morris and Smylie put the company in escrow. In the following year Morris, Smylie and a group of investors consisting of 95% Las Vegans bought Capriotti's. Capriotti's had 44 restaurant locations by the end of 2008. [12] Morris is the CEO of the company. [12] [13] [14] [15] In 2008 and 2009 the chain was the official sandwich sponsor of the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. [16] [17] Capriotti's was ranked in Entrepreneur magazine's top 500 franchise list in 2010 and remained ranked through 2014. [12]

Joe Biden at the opening of a Capriotti's in Washington, D.C., in 2013. Joe Biden at opening of Capriotti's in DC.jpg
Joe Biden at the opening of a Capriotti's in Washington, D.C., in 2013.

Capriotti's starred on Food Network's Unwrapped in December 2011. [18] [19] In November 2013, Capriotti's expanded its presence on the East Coast by opening its first location in Washington DC. [20] [21] Joe Biden was the first customer served at the store's grand opening. [21] [22] [23] That year, Capriotti's brought in over $58 million in revenue and experienced a 48% growth over the previous three years. [24] In 2014, the company was named one of the "Top 10 Best Food Franchises for Your Buck" and one of "America's Best Franchises" by Forbes magazine. [25] [26]

The Sandelman & Associates Quick Track Study on the Top 10 Quick Service Restaurant Concepts ranked Capriotti's among the top ten in overall satisfaction [27] and won the award for highest quality and taste in the 2014 study. [28]

Business operations

Capriotti's is now based in Las Vegas, Nevada and has its largest concentration of shops there. The restaurant chain has 112 locations in 27 states including: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington State and Wisconsin. [5] [6] [29] In 2014, it ranked #293 in Entrepreneur's Franchise 500. In 2016, Capriotti's was ranked #264 in Entrepreneur's Franchise 500. [30]

Products

Bobbies from Capriotti's Bobbies (11234783245).jpg
Bobbies from Capriotti's

Capriotti's specializes in cold, grilled, and vegetarian hoagies or submarine sandwiches. [6] Each restaurant roasts whole turkeys for 12 hours nightly, hand pulls meats, and makes their own meatballs and coleslaw. [5] [7] [9]

In November 2009, the Bobbie, one of Capriotti's signature sandwiches, was voted "The Greatest Sandwich in America" by AOL.com. [31] The sandwich is made with pulled turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing and mayonnaise. [31] The Margolets named it after their aunt. [32] In 2012, USA Today named Capriotti's one of the "10 Great Places for a Surprising Sandwich". [33]

Technology

Capriotti has utilized Google Glass to re-record employee training videos in a first person view. [34] Management trainees also wear Google Glass during rush hour periods and review the footage for constructive visual feedback. [34] [35] Capriotti's uses an app-based loyalty program. [36]

Related Research Articles

Subway IP LLC, trading as Subway, is an American multinational fast food restaurant franchise that specializes in submarine sandwiches (subs) and wraps. It was founded by Fred DeLuca and financed by Peter Buck in 1965 as Pete's Super Submarines in Bridgeport, Connecticut. After several name changes, it was renamed Subway in 1972, and a franchise operation began in 1974 with a second restaurant in Wallingford, Connecticut.

Quiz Holdings, LLC, doing business as Quiznos, is an American franchised fast-food restaurant based in Denver that specializes in offering toasted submarine sandwiches. It was founded in 1981 by Jimmy Lambatos and sold to Rick and Richard Schaden ten years later. It then grew to nearly 5,000 restaurants; by 2013, Quiznos was the second-largest submarine sandwich shop chain in North America, behind Subway. It filed for bankruptcy in 2014; by 2016, it had dropped to ninth place, and the number of Quiznos locations in the United States fell from a 2007 high of 4,700 to just 400 a decade later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">99 Ranch Market</span> Taiwanese-American supermarket chain

99 Ranch Market is an American supermarket chain owned by Tawa Supermarket Inc., which is based in Buena Park, California. 99 Ranch has 58 stores in the U.S., primarily in California, with other stores in Nevada, Oregon, Washington, New Jersey, Texas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Arizona, and Virginia. The company also started offering shopping via its website in 2014. In February 2021, the company also launched their mobile app for grocery delivery. One of its main competitors is H-mart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fazoli's</span> American-Italian fast food company

Fazoli's System Management, LLC., doing business as Fazoli's, is an American fast casual restaurant chain headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky. It was founded in 1988 and is now owned by FAT Brands. As of September 2023, there are 211 Fazoli's located nationwide. The restaurant chain specializes in Italian-American cuisine and dishes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steak 'n Shake</span> American restaurant chain

Steak 'n Shake Operations, Inc., doing business as Steak 'n Shake, is an American casual restaurant chain concentrated primarily in the Midwestern United States with locations also in the South, Mid-Atlantic, Western United States, Europe, and the Middle East. The company is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Biglari Holdings. As of 2018, 628 Steak 'n Shake restaurants were in operation; of those 414 were corporate-owned, and 214 franchised. The company has since attempted to convert to a fully franchised model.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Cheesecake Factory</span> American restaurant chain

The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated is an American restaurant company and distributor of cheesecakes based in the United States. It operates 219 full-service restaurants: 206 under the Cheesecake Factory brand and 7 under the Grand Lux Cafe brand, not including the number of restaurants operated under the North Italia nor any of Fox Restaurant Brands' names. The Cheesecake Factory also operates two bakery production facilities—in Calabasas, California, and Rocky Mount, North Carolina—and licenses two bakery-based menus for other foodservice operators under the Cheesecake Factory Bakery Cafe marque. Its cheesecakes and other baked goods can also be found in the cafes of many Barnes & Noble stores.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Potbelly Sandwich Shop</span> American fast-casual restaurant chain

Potbelly Corporation, more commonly known as Potbelly Sandwich Shop or Potbelly Sandwich Works, is a publicly traded American fast-casual restaurant chain that focuses on submarine sandwiches and milkshakes. Potbelly was founded in 1977 in Chicago, and its name refers to the potbelly stove. Potbelly's menu features a variety of sandwiches that are all served hot, and the menu includes soup, shakes, smoothies, potato chips and cookies. Some locations formerly presented live music from local musicians during the lunch hours.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy John's</span> American sandwich chain

Jimmy John's Franchise, LLC, commonly referred to as Jimmy John's, is an American sandwich chain, headquartered in Champaign, Illinois. The business was founded by Jimmy John Liautaud in 1983. After Liautaud graduated from high school, his father gave him a choice to either join the military or start a business. Liautaud decided to start a hot dog business, which changed to sandwiches due to costs.

Naugles was a Southern California fast-food Mexican restaurant chain that existed from 1970 to 1995. A revived Naugles chain was established in 2015 by entrepreneur Christian Ziebarth, after it was ruled that the trademarks had been abandoned by the original company's successor, Del Taco.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islands (restaurant)</span> Tropical-themed restaurant chain in California and Arizona, USA

Islands Fine Burgers & Drinks is a casual dining restaurant chain that specializes in burgers, fresh cut fries, and specialty drinks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steak Escape</span> Restaurant chain based in Columbus, Ohio, United States

Steak Escape is a restaurant chain based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. Locations are typically found in food courts in shopping malls as well as airports, all serving a variety of menu items, including cheesesteaks. The company is known as the originator of the mall cheesesteak concept. The chain is owned by Columbus, Ohio-based Escape Enterprises.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">L&L Hawaiian Barbecue</span> Hawaii-themed franchise restaurant chain

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, known also as L&L Drive-Inn or colloquially as L&L, is the only Hawaii-origin, Hawaii-themed franchise restaurant franchise from Honolulu, Hawaii, centered on the plate lunch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wing Zone</span> American restaurant chain

Wing Zone is a Las Vegas-based chain of restaurants that specializes in chicken wings owned by Capriotti's. The chain has over 30 restaurants in the United States and over 60 internationally. In 2022, Capriotti's announced that Wing Zone will be expanding, with 50 new locations into India.

Saladworks, LLC is a restaurant franchise that serves made-to-order entrée salads, wraps, soups, and sandwiches. Saladworks restaurants are categorized as fast casual, and the company markets its menu as a healthy alternative to other fast food fare. The franchise currently operates 150 restaurant locations in 22 states and is developing locations internationally. It continues to develop exclusively through its Multiple Unit Development approach, focusing on development in metropolitan areas throughout the United States. The restaurant chain also has stores in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pizza Factory</span> Chain of pizza restaurants

Pizza Factory Inc. is a chain of pizza restaurants in the western United States, based in Oakhurst, California. The company began in 1979, when Danny Wheeler and his wife Carol opened Danny's Red Devil Pizza in Oakhurst. Ron Willey and his wife Joyce subsequently opened a second location in 1981, known as Pizza Factory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duck Donuts</span> American donut company

Duck Donuts is an American doughnut shop chain based in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Duck Donuts was founded in 2006 in Duck, North Carolina, by Russ DiGilio and Robin Griffith, and has since expanded to over 100 locations in the United States. The chain's products include customizable, made-to-order doughnuts, other baked goods, and a range of beverages.

Roberto's Taco Shop is a chain of Mexican restaurants in California and Nevada, with locations primarily in San Diego and the Las Vegas Valley. It is based in Las Vegas, and it has 77 locations as of 2020. The company originated with a tortilleria that was founded in San Ysidro, San Diego, in 1964, by Roberto Robledo and his wife Dolores. They subsequently purchased several restaurants, before renaming them Roberto's Taco Shop around 1970. The chain expanded to the Las Vegas Valley in 1990, and was also operating in Miami by the end of the decade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruxie</span> Southern California-based fast casual restaurant

Bruxie is a Southern California-based fast casual restaurant chain founded in 2010. They primarily specialize in fried chicken waffle sandwiches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lardo (restaurant)</span> Chain of sandwich restaurants in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Lardo is a small chain of sandwich restaurants, based in Portland, Oregon. As of 2024, the company operates in Portland on Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard, at the Moda Center, and at the Portland International Airport. Additionally, there are Lardo locations in Lake Oswego, Oregon, and Las Vegas.

Francis Allen-Palenske is an American elected official in Las Vegas, Nevada.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 John Grossmann (January 28, 2015). "Using Smartphones and Apps to Enhance Loyalty Programs". The New York Times. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  2. "Franchise Chatter Exclusive: Q&A Interview with Ashley Morris, CEO of Capriotti's". 16 November 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Capriotti's Sandwich Shop Inc" . Retrieved 2014-07-18.
  4. 1 2 Samara Kalk Derby (2010-05-20). "Capriotti's Sandwiches Stand Out Amid Competitors". The Capital Times & Wisconsin State Journal.
  5. 1 2 3 Ethan Rothstein (2013-10-18). "Capriotti's Sandwich Shop Coming to Rosslyn" . Retrieved 2014-07-18.
  6. 1 2 3 "Capriotti's Sandwich Shop Celebrates 100th Restaurant12-23-2013" . Retrieved 2014-07-18.
  7. 1 2 Lauren Jow (2014-01-22). "Las Vegas-based sandwich shop opens at The Market Place". The Orange County Register.
  8. Jill Henebry (January 1995). "Talking turkey -- Capriotti's branches out". Delaware Business Review.
  9. 1 2 Lindsay Friedman (June 22, 2016). "Franchise of the Day: To Stand Out From Its Competitors, This Sandwich Shop Has an Extra Tasty Nightly Ritual". Entrepreneur. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  10. 1 2 Tovin Lapan (2012-04-10). "Capriotti's Bobbie collects yet another accolade; "Encyclopedia of Sandwiches" author tells USA Today that shop's turkey sub is among her favorites". Las Vegas Sun.
  11. Tim O'Reiley (2011-03-21). "Heroes welcome? Well, not as envisioned". Las Vegas Business Press.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Tracy Stapp Herold (2013-10-18). "No Ordinary Hero" . Retrieved 2014-07-18.
  13. 1 2 3 Tracy Stapp Herold (2010-03-25). "No Ordinary Hero" . Retrieved 2014-07-18.
  14. Steven R. Thompson (2012-10-07). "Capriotti's plans growth". Dallas Business Journal.
  15. Hannah Fry (2011-06-14). "Capriotti's Sandwich shops to invade Orange County". The Orange County Register.
  16. Ryan Saxton. "Popular First State sandwich shop moving into Bethany". Archived from the original on 2014-07-25. Retrieved 2014-07-18.
  17. "Capriotti's named World Series of Poker sandwich sponsor". 2008-06-18. Retrieved 2014-07-18.
  18. "Capriotti's Unwrapped on Food Network". YouTube . 2011-12-06. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2014-07-18.
  19. "MARKETPLACE: Capriotti's Sandwich Shop". 2012-01-29. Retrieved 2014-07-18.
  20. Josh Lederman (2013-11-21). "Joe Biden Welcomes Delaware-Born Sandwich Shop To D.C., Comes Up Short When Trying To Pay The Bill". HuffPost . Retrieved 2014-07-18.
  21. 1 2 "Vice President Joe Biden Visits Capriotti's". January 2014. Retrieved 2014-07-18.
  22. "Capriotti's Opens With Free Sandwiches, A Visit From Joe Biden". 2013-11-21. Archived from the original on 2013-11-24. Retrieved 2014-07-18.
  23. "Biden Borrows Money to Pay For Lunch at New D.C. Sandwich Shop". 2013-11-21. Retrieved 2014-07-18.
  24. "Here's Why One CEO Always Wants To Be 'The Dumbest Guy In The Room'". September 17, 2014. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  25. Emily Inverso (2014-05-27). "The 10 Best Food Franchises For Your Buck". Forbes . Retrieved 2014-07-18.
  26. "The Best and Worst Franchises In America". Forbes . Archived from the original on May 31, 2014. Retrieved 2014-07-18.
  27. "Panera, Chick-fil-A, Papa Murphy's receive Award of Excellence". Pizza Marketplace. February 11, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  28. Renita D. Young (February 13, 2015). "Raising Cane's, CC's among top 10 Excellent Fast-Food Chains nationally". The Times Picayune. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  29. Wil Fulton (June 17, 2016). "The Next Jimmy John's: Sandwich Chains That Could Take Over America". Thrillist. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  30. "Top Food Franchises of 2016". Entrepreneur. June 18, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  31. 1 2 "Capriotti's Sandwich Shop". Archived from the original on 2014-07-26. Retrieved 2014-07-18.
  32. Cristina Perachio (2013-11-16). "You're Quite the Dish: The Bobbie at Capriotti's". Archived from the original on 2014-07-25. Retrieved 2014-07-18.
  33. "Capriotti's Sandwich Shop Targets Houston For Major Expansion". Archived from the original on 2014-07-25. Retrieved 2014-07-18.
  34. 1 2 Nina Meijers (2013-08-01). "Google Glass for Restaurant Employee Training" . Retrieved 2014-07-18.
  35. "This Sandwich Shop's Special Ingredient? Google Glass". September 11, 2013. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  36. Grossmann, John (January 28, 2015). "Using Smartphones and Apps to Enhance Loyalty Programs". The New York Times. Retrieved April 16, 2015.

39°45′01″N75°34′20″W / 39.750222°N 75.572142°W / 39.750222; -75.572142