Blimpie closes down

[New Era Outlaw]

Starting today, Blimpie Subs and Salads will close its doors.
Unfortunately, I don't have the article on hand (I read this over the shoulder of somebody reading the papers on the way to work today), but, from what I had read, Blimpie went into receivership and couldn't compete as a stand-alone restaurant. However, an announcement was made upon the closure of Blimpie's that another food sensation will take its place.


Now....with regards to this, I can't say that I'll really miss Blimpie.
Their sandwiches were terrible, were somewhat over-priced, and doesn't even have half the variety that Subway had in their menu. As a matter of fact, it probably comes as no surprise that Subway's revenue goes into the billions when compared with Blimpie's $19 million earnings.

So, so long Blimpie. Been nice knowing you. Or not.

[Crixx_Creww]

f***************************************

now where i supposed to get fries and jerk chicken from??? damnit!! they had this great garlic sauce to put on it and yu could get salad on top of the fries it was awesometastic!!

[daniboy79]

yea... same here, went into a Blimpie once, was NOT impressed by their sandwiches and walked out! next stop was the trusty Subway

[Arcmanov]

I guess Subway was their main competition, and they get 'squeezed' out of the market.

[New Era Outlaw]

All right....I managed to get a hold of the article.
Mind you, I'm not typing out the whole thing.....probably just the first half of it, because it seems to repeat itself from there.

Blimpie shuts down

The sandwich chain Blimpie, has closed down its operations in T&T.

Local franchise holders Mario's Pizzeria, announced th decision in a newspaper advertisement on Sunday. However, the company said it will develop its own brand of the popular sandwiches to replace Blimpie.

The ad said tht Blimpie will now make room for something "tastefully exciting" at Mario's. It will be replaced with "a new exciting adventure in taste and nutrition."

The ad said that more details will soon be provided on these new developments.

Contacted yesterday, managing director of Mario's Richard Harford said that the company made the decision to close the franchises because the parent company went into receivership. Blimpie International has been franchising for ten years and has about 1,400 locations owned by franchisees.

Source: Asha Javeed, Business Guardian, Page 18, Tuesday 4th September, 2007.


Just curious about a couple of things, given what was said here:

1) When a company develops its 'own brand' of something it's discontinuing, isn't that somewhat distancing yourself from the original product? Then again, maybe I'm reading too much into it, since the parent company did go into receivership, and would therefore place the franchisees in somewhat of a jam, which leads me to my next point:

2) Given the fact that the parent company went into receivership, isn't that a sign that there are troubles ahead for the company?

I'd pretty much say so.
I'll admit this much....Blimpie does try every once in a while.
Unfortunately, after a while, you get the feeling that the Mario's chain was just 'supporting' Blimpie, with no help from the latter. I haven't seen much innovation from Blimpie whenever I do pass by...it's always the same thing. On top of that, the competition always seems to come up with something new. Subway tries new sandwiches out on the menu like Chicken Parmesan and Bar-Be-Que Shrimp, and Quizno's practically invented the toasted sub. What exactly can Blimpie lay claim to?

Now, I'm hoping that whatever 'new' sandwich business the company gets into, tries a lot harder than Blimpie did. I do like to give people a benefit of a doubt, and a second chance. However, I can't help but feel that whatever new is coming our way will just be Blimpie with a Mario's sticker slapped on it. That's one hell of a retooling process that they're going to have to undertake if they're going to build, or hopefully improve on Blimpie.

[Exar_Kun]

Only thing I ever liked about Blimpie is that they had real bacon.
For eveybody wondering "wtf this mc talkin' bout, Subway have real bacon". Let's just say that in Price Plaza, they don't. Turkey bacon (ugh) iymc.

[Bob]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

I loved their subs more than suckway!!!

yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyygodyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy??

[Eroo]

Bought a steak & cheese sub there once, it tasted like old corn beef. Never bought there since.

[TrinireturnofGamez]

 They were alright , worse food outlets managed to stay in business..

 Don't know why they werent making a profit  .

[spinner]

f***************************************

now where i supposed to get fries and jerk chicken from??? damnit!! they had this great garlic sauce to put on it and yu could get salad on top of the fries it was awesometastic!!

they stopped selling that awhile now on maraval road ...i saw some ppl there taking down signs and ting so i thought they just moving out but didnt know it was a nationwide ting, where i getting breakfast now?!

[daniboy79]

they stopped selling that awhile now on maraval road ...i saw some ppl there taking down signs and ting so i thought they just moving out but didnt know it was a nationwide ting, where i getting breakfast now?!

guess it's back to good ole' donut boys

[Saxito Pau]

never bought from them .. bread used to look old. Not much variety... could use a subway now though... yummm

[New Era Outlaw]

where i getting breakfast now?!

You know, I asked that very same question when they closed McDonald's down. Those Eggwiches were made of win and awesome.

Ah, fear not. You'll survive. There's always Pizza Boys.......

[Spazosaurus]

There's literally a ton of places selling foo on Maraval road so there's no shortage. Pretty soon it won't be missed and no doubt another eating establishment going right where Blimpie was.

[liquidmetal]

yup!..lol maybe hottshoppe might extend into that spot...the amount of people thas be there somtimes..hmf..dey need human parkin space

[Crixx_Creww]

hotshoppe need linx and to stop closin so early

and hes right

blimpies was only place except rituals and dopsons open for breakfast on maraval road

[jose]

The worse thing about Blimpie and Marios was/ is the service. Service sucks something royal. Marios outlets all over have the absolutely worse service, even worse than Royal Castle!
A prime example is the new rest. in Marabella - Lovely layout, large plasma tv's, but talk about lack-luster service!
Mario's has to buck up on this.

[New Era Outlaw]

If I may say something a bit further, I really think that the Mario's franchise, on the whole, needs a bit of an overhaul. I remember a time when Mario's was top-notch, and now......ugh. Let's just say that time hasn't been kind to the quality of the pizza, and associated other products (Mario's Burger, I'm looking at you.)

On top of that, I'd walk into a Mario's and....I won't know what to make of it, to be honest. The floors are eternally muddy with people's footprints, the atmosphere is as bland as a shower stall (as a matter of fact, that's the impression I get when I walk into a restaurant nowadays) and whatever promotions they can come up with are never truly that impressive.

Come ON, Mario's. Even KFC is re-inventing themselves by changing up a few things with their restaurants. Why can't you do the same?

[~*Ashiee*~]

this is damn good them blimpie b!tches in uwi had real attitude

[Kaizen]

i feel your pain jose..

if ever we go there is prolly 1-1hr 30mins for a mc pizza =\