Tubby's
Tubby's is a Michigan-based American restaurant chain best known for grilled submarine sandwiches and regional franchise operations.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Tubby's is an American quick-service restaurant and franchise brand based in Clinton Township, Michigan, in the Detroit metropolitan area. The company was founded in nearby St. Clair Shores in 1968 by Richard Paganes, who was 21 years old and had previously worked at another local submarine-sandwich shop. Its first location was selected after Paganes stopped near a vacant building while dealing with a flat tire. The initial restaurant offered about 25 sandwich varieties, with grilling being a key point of distinction. The concept expanded quickly through company-operated and franchised restaurants. Paganes opened three additional nearby locations soon after the first store and later involved his brother Robert in the business. By 1977, Tubby's had reached ten locations and was incorporated as Tubby's Sub Shops, Inc. The first franchise opened in Madison Heights, Michigan. The chain subsequently added dine-in service at some stores, and a Westland location became the first to include a drive-through window. Tubby's reached approximately 50 locations by 1986 and became a public company that year. It later acquired the local Ricky's Dairy Bar and Luxury Grill concept, which was also franchised. The company merged with New Jersey-based Stuff Yer Face, Inc., and adopted the name Tubby's, Inc. Richard Paganes initially served as chairman and chief executive officer, although Alexander Bardy succeeded him as CEO for a period before Paganes returned to the role in 1994. During the 1990s, Tubby's tested several formats and geographic markets. Tubby's Café Express operated inside five Sears department stores, while other experiments included drive-through-only restaurants, campus locations at Wayne State University and Ohio State University, and a restaurant inside a Detroit hospital. The chain also expanded outside Michigan, including to Florida, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Arizona, and Edmonton, Alberta. Most of those out-of-state and international locations were eventually closed as Tubby's concentrated on the Detroit area and its Michigan identity. The chain continued to develop nontraditional locations, including restaurants inside gas stations. Its 100th store, opened in Macomb Township in 2001, was a prototype location that also introduced pizza to the menu. After a proposed merger with Florida-based Interfoods of America failed, Tubby's returned to private ownership in 1999. The company's competitive environment included larger national sandwich chains, particularly Subway and, during an earlier period, Quiznos. In the 2010s, Tubby's pursued modernization, store remodeling, refreshed branding, and menu development. Robert Paganes remained involved in leadership, while Bill Kiryakoza joined as executive vice president in 2010. In 2014, Paganes and Kiryakoza became co-owners after acquiring the remaining shares held by the Paganes family. In 2015, Tubby's acquired Michigan cupcake brand Just Baked and began making its gourmet cupcakes available through Tubby's restaurants as a co-branded offering. Tubby's core menu centers on submarine sandwiches, especially grilled subs, along with salads, proprietary chips, soft drinks, french fries, soup, and selected additional offerings such as pizza at certain locations. The brand's regional positioning combines a familiar neighborhood sandwich-shop identity with convenience-oriented formats, including carry-out, drive-through, mobile ordering, and franchise locations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company relied on drive-through and mobile-ordering capabilities to continue serving customers. The business has remained primarily concentrated in Michigan, especially Metro Detroit, while announcing plans to pursue additional markets such as Ann Arbor, Lansing, Flint, Grand Rapids, and Kalamazoo. Public descriptions have placed its Michigan footprint at more than 50 locations, with reported totals varying by year and source.
History
Tubby's began in 1968 in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, when Richard Paganes opened a submarine-sandwich shop after working at another local sub business. The location was reportedly identified after Paganes encountered a flat tire outside a building that was available for rent. The original restaurant offered approximately 25 sandwich varieties, many of them grilled, establishing the preparation style that later became strongly associated with the brand. Paganes expanded the business rapidly, adding three nearby locations and later receiving assistance from his brother Robert. By 1977, Tubby's had grown to ten restaurants and was incorporated as Tubby's Sub Shops, Inc. The first franchised store opened in Madison Heights. The company gradually broadened its operating formats: some restaurants added dine-in seating, while the Westland store became the first Tubby's location with a drive-through window. By 1986, the chain had approximately 50 locations and became publicly traded. It acquired Ricky's Dairy Bar and Luxury Grill, a local restaurant concept that was subsequently franchised, and later merged with New Jersey-based Stuff Yer Face, Inc. The combined company was renamed Tubby's, Inc. Richard Paganes served as chairman and CEO before Alexander Bardy took over as CEO. Bardy was removed from the position in 1994, after which Paganes returned to the chief executive role. The 1990s brought a series of format and market experiments. Tubby's Café Express operated in five Sears department stores, including locations at Fairlane Town Center in Dearborn and Oakland Mall in Troy. The company also explored drive-through-only prototypes and opened stores at Wayne State University, Ohio State University, and a Detroit hospital. Café Express was ultimately abandoned. Tubby's continued experimenting with locations in gas stations and expanded into Florida, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Arizona, and Canada. Its first location outside the United States opened in Edmonton, Alberta, in 1997. The geographic expansion did not become permanent. After a proposed merger with Florida-based Interfoods of America failed, Tubby's returned to private ownership in 1999. Although it briefly entered additional states, the company eventually closed locations outside Michigan and refocused on the Detroit metropolitan area. This regional strategy placed Tubby's in competition with national sandwich chains, including Quiznos and Subway. A prototype store in Macomb Township, described as the chain's 100th location, opened in 2001 and was the first Tubby's restaurant to serve pizza. In the 2010s, Tubby's pursued a modernization program involving store remodeling, updated branding, and broader menu offerings. Robert Paganes continued in leadership, and Bill Kiryakoza joined the business as executive vice president in 2010. In 2014, Paganes and Kiryakoza became co-owners after buying the remaining shares from the Paganes family. In 2015, the company acquired Just Baked, a Michigan cupcake brand. Tubby's incorporated Just Baked gourmet cupcakes into its restaurants as a co-branded offering intended to add a dessert and bakery component without requiring franchisees to establish a separate concept. The brand's later operating model emphasized its Michigan base, franchise development, drive-through service, and digital ordering. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tubby's used existing drive-through and mobile-ordering capabilities to continue operations under changing service conditions. The company subsequently publicized plans to expand from its Metro Detroit base into other Michigan markets, including Ann Arbor, Lansing, Flint, Grand Rapids, and Kalamazoo. Tubby's remains primarily a Michigan regional chain whose identity rests on grilled submarine sandwiches, convenience, franchise accessibility, and connections to local food brands.
- 2022
Michigan growth plan announced
[1]Tubby's announces plans to pursue expansion in Ann Arbor, Lansing, Flint, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and other Michigan markets.
- 2015
Just Baked is acquired
[1]Tubby's purchases the Michigan cupcake brand Just Baked and introduces its products through a co-branded offering.
- 2014
Paganes and Kiryakoza become co-owners
[1]Robert Paganes and Bill Kiryakoza acquire the remaining family-held shares and become co-owners.
- 2010
Bill Kiryakoza joins the company
[1]Kiryakoza joins Tubby's as executive vice president during a period of modernization.
- 2001
100th-store prototype opens
[1]A prototype Tubby's in Macomb Township becomes the chain's 100th store and introduces pizza to the menu.
- 1999
Return to private ownership
[1]After a failed merger proposal with Interfoods of America, Tubby's returns to private ownership.
- 1997
First international location opens
[1]Tubby's opens its first location outside the United States in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
- 1994
Café Express experiment ends and Paganes returns as CEO
[1]Tubby's abandons its Café Express format, and Richard Paganes replaces Alexander Bardy as chief executive.
- 1986
Tubby's goes public
[1]The chain, then operating approximately 50 locations, becomes a public company.
- 1977
Business reaches ten locations
[1]Tubby's grows to ten restaurants and is incorporated as Tubby's Sub Shops, Inc.
Products and positioning
A regional Michigan quick-service and franchise restaurant brand focused on grilled submarine sandwiches, convenience-oriented service, and neighborhood familiarity, with complementary bakery offerings through Just Baked.
Submarine sandwiches · 1968
Grilled submarine sandwiches
Grilled subs are Tubby's signature product category and a central part of the brand's identity since its founding. The original shop offered numerous sandwich varieties, many prepared on a grill. The category remains the principal point of differentiation for the regional chain.
Submarine sandwiches
Cold submarine sandwiches
Tubby's also serves non-grilled submarine sandwiches as part of its broader sub-shop menu. These products extend the brand beyond its grilled specialty and support carry-out, drive-through, and franchised restaurant formats.
Quick-service restaurant menu
Salads, sides, and beverages
Supporting menu categories include salads, proprietary chips, french fries, soup, and soft drinks. These items complement the sandwich business and provide meal combinations for dine-in, carry-out, and drive-through customers.
Bakery and desserts · 2015
Just Baked gourmet cupcakes
Following its 2015 acquisition of Just Baked, Tubby's offered the Michigan cupcake brand's gourmet cupcakes through Tubby's restaurants as a co-branded concept. The addition diversified the menu with a bakery and dessert component.
Quick-service restaurant menu · 2001
Pizza
Pizza was introduced at the prototype Tubby's store in Macomb Township, identified as the chain's 100th location in 2001. The available reference material does not establish whether pizza became a standard offering across the entire system.
Brand decisions
2022
Expansion beyond Metro DetroitStrategyBackground
Tubby's remained concentrated in the Detroit area but sought to extend its Michigan footprint.
Action taken
The company announced plans to target Ann Arbor, Lansing, Flint, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and other Michigan markets.
Aftermath
The available material describes the expansion plan but does not provide a verified final store count or completion status for each target market.
2015
Just Baked acquisition and co-brandingM&ABackground
Tubby's was broadening its menu and looking for complementary offerings that could fit its Michigan restaurant network.
Action taken
The company acquired Just Baked and began offering its gourmet cupcakes in Tubby's restaurants.
Aftermath
The transaction added a bakery and dessert proposition to Tubby's sandwich-focused business without requiring franchisees to operate a separate standalone concept.
2014
Modernization and ownership transitionStrategyBackground
Tubby's sought to update its regional restaurant system under Robert Paganes and Bill Kiryakoza.
Action taken
The partners acquired the remaining Paganes family shares and announced plans for store remodeling, refreshed branding, and expanded products.
Aftermath
The modernization effort was followed by the Just Baked acquisition and continued emphasis on Michigan growth.
1999
Return to private ownership after failed merger proposalM&ABackground
Tubby's had proposed a merger with Florida-based Interfoods of America while pursuing geographic expansion.
Action taken
After the merger failed, Tubby's returned to private ownership.
Aftermath
The chain later closed locations outside Michigan and concentrated its business on the Detroit metropolitan area and the wider Michigan market.
1986
Public-market expansionStrategyBackground
Tubby's had grown to approximately 50 locations and was pursuing expansion through company-operated and franchised restaurants.
Action taken
The company became publicly traded.
Aftermath
Tubby's continued expansion and subsequently acquired Ricky's Dairy Bar and Luxury Grill before later undergoing a corporate merger.
Recent events
- 2022
Tubby's announces broader Michigan expansion[1]
Other
The company announced plans to expand beyond Metro Detroit into markets including Ann Arbor, Lansing, Flint, Grand Rapids, and Kalamazoo.
- 2015
Tubby's acquires Just Baked[1]
M&A · Product launch
Tubby's purchased the Michigan cupcake brand Just Baked and introduced its gourmet cupcakes through Tubby's restaurants.
- 1999
Tubby's returns to private ownership after failed merger[1]
M&A
Following an unsuccessful proposed merger with Interfoods of America, Tubby's returned to private ownership.
- 1986
Tubby's becomes a public company[1]
Other
Tubby's reached approximately 50 locations and went public during a period of substantial regional expansion.
Sources1 sources
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