Capriotti's Sandwich Shop

Capriotti's Sandwich Shop is an American fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in cold, grilled, and vegetarian hoagies and submarine sandwiches. The business began in 1976 in Wilmington, Delaware's Little Italy neighborhood, where Lois Margolet founded the first shop with the brand named in honor of the founders' grandfather, Philip Capriotti. Its early identity was built around substantial sandwiches prepared with freshly handled ingredients rather than a conventional standardized fast-food format. The company expanded gradually in its home state. A second Delaware restaurant opened in New Castle in 1988, and Capriotti's began franchising in 1991. The brand entered Nevada in 1993 with a Las Vegas location on Sahara Avenue near the Las Vegas Strip. Las Vegas subsequently became the chain's most important operating base and, later, its headquarters. The company is particularly associated with a preparation model in which restaurants roast whole turkeys for approximately 12 hours overnight, pull the meat by hand, and prepare items such as meatballs and coleslaw in-house. Capriotti's best-known product is The Bobbie, a sandwich built from pulled turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and mayonnaise. Its flavor profile deliberately evokes a Thanksgiving meal in a portable hoagie. The sandwich was named after an aunt of the Margolet family and became the brand's signature menu item after receiving national attention, including an AOL.com reader or editorial designation as the "Greatest Sandwich in America" in 2009. Other core offerings include turkey subs, cheesesteaks, meatball sandwiches, cold deli sandwiches, grilled sandwiches, vegetarian options, salads, soups, and related sides. The chain's later ownership and growth were closely connected with Las Vegas franchisees Ashley Morris and Jason Smylie. Morris, a financial adviser, and Smylie, a software engineer, opened a Capriotti's franchise in Las Vegas in 2004. They subsequently moved toward acquiring the business, placing the company in escrow in 2007 and, with a group of investors made up largely of Las Vegas residents, completing the purchase in 2008. Capriotti's had 44 locations by the end of that year, and Morris became chief executive officer. The brand has used franchising as its principal expansion mechanism while retaining a strong regional concentration in Nevada. Its public profile grew through sponsorship, media appearances, franchise-industry rankings, and new-market openings. Capriotti's served as the official sandwich sponsor of the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas in 2008 and 2009, appeared on the Food Network program Unwrapped in 2011, and opened its first Washington, D.C., restaurant in 2013. Former U.S. vice president Joe Biden was reported as the first customer at that opening. In the same period, the company received recognition in franchise and restaurant-satisfaction rankings, including listings in Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 and a 2014 Sandelman & Associates study that placed it among the leading quick-service concepts for overall satisfaction and recognized its quality and taste. As of July 2025, reference material describes Capriotti's as having more than 175 company-owned and franchised locations across 33 U.S. states. The chain also uses an app-based loyalty program and has experimented with Google Glass for employee-training recordings and management feedback during busy service periods. Capriotti's remains a private, U.S.-focused restaurant brand whose differentiation rests on generous sandwiches, long-cooked turkey, in-restaurant preparation, and the distinctive Thanksgiving concept represented by The Bobbie.

Capriotti's was established in 1976 in Wilmington, Delaware's Little Italy neighborhood by Lois Margolet. The name honors Philip Capriotti, identified in reference material as the founders' grandfather. From the beginning, the shop developed around large, prepared-to-order sandwiches and a more hands-on approach than conventional fast-food restaurants. The business's signature preparation practices include overnight roasting of whole turkeys, hand-pulling meats, and making meatballs and coleslaw in the restaurants. The first major expansion came in 1988, when a second location opened in New Castle, Delaware. In 1991 the company began franchising, creating a structure through which it could expand beyond its original Delaware base. Capriotti's entered Las Vegas in 1993 with a restaurant on Sahara Avenue near Las Vegas Boulevard. Nevada eventually became the company's central market and headquarters location. A significant ownership transition developed in the 2000s. Ashley Morris and Jason Smylie opened a Las Vegas franchise in 2004. Morris had worked as a financial adviser and Smylie as a software engineer; both had also invested in real estate and became interested in franchising after comparing the prospective return of a restaurant business with other investments. They placed Capriotti's in escrow in 2007 and, in 2008, completed the purchase with a group of investors reported to be 95 percent Las Vegas residents. The chain had 44 restaurants by the end of 2008, and Morris became its chief executive. The business used sponsorship and public relations to build awareness outside its core markets. Capriotti's was the official sandwich sponsor of the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas in 2008 and 2009. The brand was listed in Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 beginning in 2010 and remained in the ranking through 2014; later reference material also records rankings in 2014 and 2016. The chain appeared on Food Network's Unwrapped in December 2011. Product recognition centered on The Bobbie, a sandwich consisting of pulled turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and mayonnaise. Named after a Margolet family aunt, it translates the flavors of a Thanksgiving dinner into a sub sandwich. In 2009 AOL.com identified it as the "Greatest Sandwich in America," while USA Today included Capriotti's in a 2012 feature on destinations for unusual or surprising sandwiches. The company also received franchise and customer-satisfaction recognition, including references to Forbes franchise lists and a 2014 Sandelman & Associates Quick Track Study that placed Capriotti's among the top ten quick-service restaurant concepts for overall satisfaction and recognized its quality and taste. In 2013 Capriotti's opened its first Washington, D.C., restaurant, extending its East Coast footprint; Joe Biden was reported as the first customer at the grand opening. The chain has since continued to rely on a combination of company-owned restaurants and franchises. As of July 2025, the available reference material reports more than 175 locations in 33 U.S. states. The company has also adopted operational technology, including an app-based loyalty program and experimental use of Google Glass to record training footage and review employee performance during rush periods. Its stated expansion ambitions include a long-term goal of 750 stores by 2032, although the available material does not establish whether that target has been achieved or revised.

• 2025

  Network exceeds 175 locations

  [1]Capriotti'sen.wikipedia.org

  Reference material reported more than 175 company-owned and franchised restaurants in 33 U.S. states as of July 2025.

• 2013

  First Washington, D.C., restaurant opens

  [1]Capriotti'sen.wikipedia.org

  The company opened its first Washington, D.C., location as part of its East Coast expansion.

• 2011

  Television appearance on Unwrapped

  [1]Capriotti'sen.wikipedia.org

  Capriotti's was featured on the Food Network program Unwrapped.

• 2009

  The Bobbie gains national recognition

  [1]Capriotti'sen.wikipedia.org

  AOL.com recognized The Bobbie as the "Greatest Sandwich in America."

• 2008

  Investor group completes acquisition

  [1]Capriotti'sen.wikipedia.org

  Morris, Smylie, and a predominantly Las Vegas-based investor group bought Capriotti's; the chain had 44 locations by year-end.

• 2004

  Morris and Smylie open a Las Vegas franchise

  [1]Capriotti'sen.wikipedia.org

  Ashley Morris and Jason Smylie opened a Capriotti's franchise in Las Vegas.

• 1993

  Las Vegas entry

  [1]Capriotti'sen.wikipedia.org

  The first Las Vegas restaurant opened on Sahara Avenue near Las Vegas Boulevard.

• 1991

  Franchising begins

  [1]Capriotti'sen.wikipedia.org

  Capriotti's began franchising its restaurants.

• 1988

  Second Delaware location opens

  [1]Capriotti'sen.wikipedia.org

  The chain opened a second restaurant in New Castle, Delaware.

• 1976

  First Capriotti's shop opens in Wilmington

  [1]Capriotti'sen.wikipedia.org

  Lois Margolet founded the first Capriotti's restaurant in the Little Italy neighborhood of Wilmington, Delaware.

A premium-leaning fast-casual sandwich chain emphasizing slow-roasted meats, handcrafted preparation, generous portions, and distinctive sandwich recipes.

• Signature sandwich

  The Bobbie

  The Bobbie is Capriotti's most recognizable sandwich. It combines pulled turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and mayonnaise in a hoagie-style sandwich, recreating the contrasting savory, sweet, and creamy flavors of a Thanksgiving meal. The recipe was named after an aunt of the Margolet family and became a central part of the brand's identity after national recognition in 2009.

• Sandwich

  Turkey Sub

  Turkey sandwiches are a core Capriotti's offering and reflect the chain's preparation emphasis. Reference material describes restaurants roasting whole turkeys overnight for roughly 12 hours and hand-pulling the meat before service. The resulting turkey is used across traditional turkey subs and specialty sandwiches, distinguishing the menu from chains focused primarily on pre-sliced deli fillings.

• Sandwich range

  Cold and grilled hoagies

  Capriotti's menu centers on both cold and grilled hoagies or submarine sandwiches. The range includes deli-style combinations, hot preparations, cheesesteaks, meatball sandwiches, and other specialty builds. The chain also offers vegetarian options, giving its sandwich program a broader scope than its turkey-led signature identity alone.

• Prepared meals and sides

  Salads and soups

  In addition to sandwiches, Capriotti's serves salads, soups, coleslaw, and related sides. These items provide alternatives to the chain's hoagies and complement its emphasis on prepared food served in a fast-casual setting.

• 2009World Series of Poker sponsorship

  Las Vegas · United States

  Capriotti's continued its official sandwich sponsorship of the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.

  Outcome. The second year extended the brand's event-marketing association with Las Vegas poker audiences.

  Source
• 2008World Series of Poker sponsorship

  Las Vegas · United States

  Capriotti's served as the official sandwich sponsor of the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.

  Outcome. The sponsorship gave the Las Vegas-centered chain visibility through a major event associated with its home market.

  Source

• 2011

  Use Google Glass in training and operational reviewOther

  Background

  Management sought a way to capture restaurant operations and provide more practical feedback to trainees and store teams.

  Action taken

  Capriotti's used Google Glass to record first-person training videos and to review footage from busy service periods.

  Aftermath

  The experiment became an example of the chain's use of emerging technology for employee development and operational feedback.

  Source

• 2010

  Expand through franchise-led growthStrategy

  Background

  Following the ownership transition, Capriotti's emphasized national franchise development while maintaining a substantial concentration of restaurants in Nevada.

  Action taken

  The company pursued additional franchise locations and set a long-term goal of reaching 750 stores by 2032.

  Aftermath

  Reference material later reported more than 175 locations in 33 states by July 2025; the 750-store target's current status is not established in the available material.

  Source

• 2008

  Complete investor acquisition of Capriotti'sM&A

  Background

  Ashley Morris and Jason Smylie had operated a Las Vegas franchise and pursued ownership of the wider company after placing it in escrow in 2007.

  Action taken

  Morris, Smylie, and a group of investors completed the purchase of Capriotti's.

  Aftermath

  Morris became chief executive, and the chain continued expanding from its Las Vegas base.

  Source

• 1991

  Adopt franchising as an expansion strategyStrategy

  Background

  After opening its second Delaware restaurant, Capriotti's sought a model that could support growth beyond its initial company-operated locations.

  Action taken

  The company began franchising its restaurants.

  Aftermath

  Franchising became a central mechanism for the chain's expansion across the United States.

  Source

• 2013

  Capriotti's opens its first Washington, D.C., location[1]Capriotti'sen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The company expanded its East Coast presence with a Washington, D.C., restaurant; Joe Biden was reported as the first customer at the opening.

• 2011

  Capriotti's appears on Unwrapped[1]Capriotti'sen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The chain was featured on the Food Network program Unwrapped, increasing its national media exposure.

• 2009

  The Bobbie receives national sandwich recognition[1]Capriotti'sen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Capriotti's signature turkey, stuffing, cranberry, and mayonnaise sandwich was recognized by AOL.com as the "Greatest Sandwich in America."

• 2008

  Ashley Morris and Jason Smylie acquire Capriotti's[1]Capriotti'sen.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Leadership change

  Morris, Smylie, and a group of predominantly Las Vegas-based investors completed the acquisition of Capriotti's after pursuing the company from 2007.

• 1991

  Capriotti's begins franchising[1]Capriotti'sen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The sandwich chain began using franchising as a growth model after its initial Delaware expansion.

1. 1Capriotti'sen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Capriotti's official websitecapriottis.com
3. 3Capriotti's Earns Spot on Fast Casual's 'Top 100 Movers and Shakers List' of Innovative Restaurant Brandsprnewswire.com
4. 4Capriotti's, Wing Zone execs give us the why behind the mergerfastcasual.com
5. 5National sandwich chain enters Colorado Springs market in new shopping centergazette.com