The Augusta Exchange shopping center is losing another restaurant chain.
Subway by the Regal movie theater has shut down suddenly, according to a handwritten note on the door that says, “Sorry we’re closed. Have a nice day.”
The signage has already been taken down from the retail space on Robert C. Daniel Jr. Parkway, even though the store is still listed as open on the official Subway website.
Subway didn’t return a request for further information on the closing.
There are still 10 Subway restaurants operating in Augusta.
The last nine Yelp reviews for the now-closed location all gave just one out of five stars for the restaurant. Most of the reviewers complained about poor service and rude staff members.
Subway has about 37,000 locations across 100 countries, making it the fast-food chain with the second most number of locations worldwide, behind only McDonald’s.
However, that’s a large decrease from 2019 when it had more than 42,000 locations worldwide. Earlier this year, the business, worth a reported $10 billion, put itself up for sale but hasn’t announced a buyer.
The Milford, Conn.-based franchise hired John Chidsey, former head of Burger King, as its CEO in 2019 to help it turn around the business. His efforts, including updating the menu and emphasizing sales through the app, seem to be helping. Sales at Subway’s North America stores rose 7.8% in 2022 compared to 2021, the restaurant reported in February.
This is the latest of a long list of casualties at the popular Augusta shopping center.
Mongolian stir fry restaurant Genghis Grill closed last month after 10 years, while American comfort food chain O’Charley’s shut its doors earlier this year.
In a seeming stroke of bad luck, four large retailers are leaving the shopping center due to bankruptcies: David’s Bridal, Christmas Tree Shop, Bed, Bath and Beyond and buybuy Baby.
