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Moline

Five QCA subways close; franchisee says he ‘just ran out of time’

By Linda Cook,

3 hours ago

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2TTsLK_1GQJ5cRr00

The franchisee of five Illinois Quad Cities Subways has closed all five of the stores.

Gerold Shelton told Our Quad Cities News on Saturday that he has a store in Moline on 19th Avenue, inside the Moline Walmart, and others in Milan, Coal Valley and Aledo.

“I’ve been a franchisee with Subway since 2021, and I still believe in Subway and want them to succeed, but unfortunately it just won’t be with me," Shelton said. "I had great teams in place at all five of my locations, and I truly appreciate all their time, hard work and energy they put in to build what we had. I am surrendering the locations to Subway corporate in order to speed up the process to get them reopened as soon as possible."

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1Q1sTo_1GQJ5cRr00
FILE - A Subway restaurant location is seen on June 6, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

Shelton says he is fully cooperating with Subway to make that happen.

"I am also reaching out to other franchisees and other business owners to help the displaced workers find a job in the meantime, and I have encouraged them to file for unemployment as well. I know there are some people interested in acquiring those locations, so I am hopeful they will all reopen before too long.”

He says he's stepping away because of heavy debt burdens he incurred while keeping the stores afloat the last few years: "I truly did try my hardest to keep it going. I just ran out of time."

Our Quad Cities News has reached out to Subway for a comment, but had not received a response as 7 p.m. Saturday.

The history of Subway

According to Subway's website, in 1965, 17-year-old Fred DeLuca asked his family friend, Dr. Peter Buck, a nuclear physicist, for advice on how to pay his college tuition. Buck suggested opening a submarine sandwich shop.

"With a $1,000 investment and a handshake, the two formed a business partnership that would ultimately reshape the quick service restaurant industry," the website says. "That summer, they opened their first restaurant —Pete’s Super Submarines— in Bridgeport, Connecticut." By 1974, the two had opened 16 restaurants throughout Connecticut. To accelerate growth, the pair then began franchising.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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