Capriotti's Sandwich Shop is celebrating its 50th anniversary with one of the most active expansion periods in the brand's history. During the first half of 2026, the restaurant chain opened 12 new locations and awarded development rights for 30 additional restaurants, reinforcing its long-term "50-50-50" franchise growth initiative. New markets include Lake County, Illinois, Killeen, Texas, Tempe, Arizona and several other communities that will soon welcome the brand.
The milestone reflects more than five decades of steady evolution. Since opening its first restaurant in 1976, Capriotti's has built its reputation around handcrafted sandwiches while steadily expanding its franchise footprint. Chief Executive Officer Ashley Morris said the anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate the company's history while creating momentum for its future, positioning the brand for continued growth across the United States.
The company has also earned industry recognition during its anniversary year. Capriotti's was named to Fast Casual's Movers & Shakers list, while Chief Marketing Officer Tamara Stanley received recognition for her leadership and contributions to the brand's continued success. Earlier this year, franchise leaders and corporate executives gathered in Las Vegas for the company's Leadership Summit, where they celebrated achievements and outlined priorities for the next phase of expansion.
As franchise networks grow across multiple markets, maintaining strong communication between corporate teams and franchise owners becomes increasingly important. Solutions that support CRM Integrations can help strengthen franchise relationships by centralizing communication and operational data, while Internal Emails provide an efficient way to distribute announcements, training updates and strategic initiatives across expanding organizations.
For Capriotti's, its 50th anniversary represents more than a milestone. It marks the beginning of another chapter built on expansion, leadership and sustained franchise development. With new restaurants opening, additional agreements in place and continued investment in its franchise system, the company is positioning itself for continued growth well beyond its anniversary celebration.
