Cousins Subs

Cousins Submarines, better known as Cousins Subs, is a Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based sub sandwich shop with more than 100 locations, founded in 1972 by cousins Bill Specht and Jim Sheppard. Cousins Subs is a regional chain with restaurants in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana. History Cousins Subs was founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1972 by cousins Bill Specht and James Sheppard, who could not find a suitable sub sandwich option in Milwaukee like they had when they lived in New Jersey. Specht and Sheppard opened their first restaurant in Milwaukee, which was located at 60th Street and Silver Spring Drive. After opening the shop, they partnered with a local baker to make their own bread, highlighted in the slogan "Better Bread, Better Subs". A large segment of customers during Cousins' early years were former East Coast residents. In 2009, Cousins Subs announced it would put an increased focus on the local side of the business. During the Great Recession, Cousins Subs closed over 40 locations to better focus on quality.