Subway to open 2,000 North American locations in 2011

Milford, Conn. --Subway Restaurants said Friday that more than 2,000 franchisees are actively searching for locations slated for 2011 openings.

In order to reach its development goals, the chain said that a contingent of Subway representatives will be manning the brand’s booth at the International Council of Shopping Centers’ RECon convention, May 23 to 25, in Las Vegas.

"We will be aggressively looking for sites and ready to make deals,” said Chris Kan, Training and Business Promotion Specialist for Subway Real Estate, LLC.

Subway said it continues forge ahead with new opportunities in traditional shopping centers, mall and freestanding locations as well as non-traditional venues such as hospitals, colleges, sports arenas and airports. Since this past January, the chain has opened nearly 700 new stores in 50 countries, 43 U.S. states and 8 Canadian provinces, which equates to approximately 840,000 sq. ft. of commercial retail space.

The chain is testing a new Subway café format, specifically designed to satisfy the needs of landlords of office buildings and upscale properties. The concept is a combination sandwich shop and coffee bar, featuring feature brick or wood-paneled walls, soft seating, and an expanded menu that includes baked goods and frozen coffee drinks.