Answer Woman: Another Subway restaurant closure? New Footlong Cookie?

Tiana Kennell, Asheville Citizen Times
·3 min read
Subway's Footlong Cookie was introduced for National Cookie Day but is now a regular menu item.
Subway's Footlong Cookie was introduced for National Cookie Day but is now a regular menu item.

ASHEVILLE - Today’s question is about the future of a popular sandwich chain and the availability of oblong cookies. Got a question for Answer Man or Answer Woman? Email Executive Editor Karen Chávez at KChavez@citizentimes.com and your question could appear in an upcoming column.

Question: I noticed the Subway on Biltmore Ave in Biltmore Village is closed. And the one on New Leicester Highway closed a while ago. I wanted to try that new footlong cookie. Are there any Subways left in Asheville? Is it going out of business?

As of March 6, the former Subway at 762 Biltmore Ave. is closed and the building has been sold to a new buyer.
As of March 6, the former Subway at 762 Biltmore Ave. is closed and the building has been sold to a new buyer.

Answer: The closure of three local Subway restaurant locations in recent years may seem like a trend but the corporation, which reportedly has nearly 37,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries, is still stacking sandwiches for customers worldwide, as well as in Asheville.

The locations in question are at 740 Merrimon Ave., 325 New Leicester Highway, and 762 Biltmore Ave., and their closures are isolated incidents.

In a news release from Aug. 24, Subway announced it was bought by affiliates of Roark Capital, a private equity that focuses on consumer and business service company investments with a specialization in franchise and franchise-like businesses.

Subway's Footlong Cookie is on the menu of its restaurants across Asheville and the U.S.
Subway's Footlong Cookie is on the menu of its restaurants across Asheville and the U.S.

The company reported that it had its 10th consecutive quarter of positive same-store sales and moving forward it will continue “to execute its strategy with a focus on sales growth, menu innovation, modernization of restaurants, overall guest experience improvements, and international expansion.”

Meanwhile, Subway is promoting new and different menu items and experiences, including the Footlong Cookie.

On Dec. 4, National Cookie Day, Subway released its latest batches of its footlong chocolate chip cookies, which were introduced for the 2022 observance.

Subway Sidekicks -- Cinnabon Footlong Churro and Auntie Anne’s Footlong Pretzel -- were added to the restaurant chain's menu alongside its Footlong Cookie.
Subway Sidekicks -- Cinnabon Footlong Churro and Auntie Anne’s Footlong Pretzel -- were added to the restaurant chain's menu alongside its Footlong Cookie.

"The overwhelming response we received from fans around the country last year let us know that we needed to make the footlong cookie a permanent addition to our menu," said Paul Fabre, Senior Vice President, Culinary and Innovation in a news release.

The Footlong Cookie, which costs $5 each, is inspired by the restaurant’s Footlong sandwiches and described as “thick, gooey and packed with chocolate chips.”

Subway Sidekicks also rolled out in partnership with two dessert chains. The Cinnabon Footlong Churro is made with Makara cinnamon sugar and costs $2 each.

The Subway at 325 New Leicester Highway, along with other businesses in the retail strip, remained closed on March 6, 2024. Last year, a development confirmed plans to demolish the building and rebuild buildings for retail space, restaurants and a car wash.
The Subway at 325 New Leicester Highway, along with other businesses in the retail strip, remained closed on March 6, 2024. Last year, a development confirmed plans to demolish the building and rebuild buildings for retail space, restaurants and a car wash.

Auntie Anne’s Footlong Pretzel is a buttery and salty treat served with Subway’s honey mustard and costs $3 each.

The cookies are offered at participating stores.

The Subway at 325 New Leicester Highway, along with other businesses in the retail strip, remained closed on March 6, 2024. Last year, a development confirmed plans to demolish the building and rebuild buildings for retail space, restaurants and a car wash.
The Subway at 325 New Leicester Highway, along with other businesses in the retail strip, remained closed on March 6, 2024. Last year, a development confirmed plans to demolish the building and rebuild buildings for retail space, restaurants and a car wash.

According to Subway’s website, there are seven Subway restaurants in the city, including 68 Tunnel Road, 815 Patton Ave., 801 Fairview Road, 856-A Sweeten Creek Road, 278 Smokey Park Highway, 4 Old Eastwood Village Blvd. and 3106-A Sweeten Creek Road.

As for the future of the former Subway locations, new development opportunities may be available and in progress.

Last June, Kodiak Net Lease Development told the Citizen Times the company intended to purchase the property at 325 New Leicester Highway to demolish it and build five new commercial buildings, including a car wash, retail space and restaurants. As of March 6, the building is still there and intact.

The Citizen Times was also told that the commercial space at 740 Merrimon Ave., which has a different owner, was renovated to attract a new tenant. Currently, the site is still vacant with only the wood framing inside and no apparent changes from last summer.

Now, the Subway at 762 Biltmore Ave. is closed and has brown paper covering its windows from the inside, and the building is tagged with graffiti, but it may not be vacant for long.

The former Subway at 740 Merrimon Ave. was renovated but still vacant as of March 6, 2024.
The former Subway at 740 Merrimon Ave. was renovated but still vacant as of March 6, 2024.

The property was brokered by an agent at Pulliam Properties, Inc. who was not available for comment at the time of publishing. However, a representative for the real estate company confirmed that the new development to open at the address will not be a restaurant.

Follow the Citizen Times for updates on the properties.

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Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow her on Instagram @PrincessOfPage. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Another Subway restaurant bites the dust, how to get Footlong Cookies