College student Mike Cobler was tired of eating cafeteria food. With a limited budget, he set up a small sandwich shop in 1971 to serve his fellow students at San Jose State University in Northern California. Soon, lines were forming out the door for Cobler's sandwiches, and he opened another Togo's. The company began franchising in 1977, with shops serving sandwiches, salads, wraps and soups to customers on the West Coast.
The first "Togo’s" was opened in 1968 at 336 East William Street near San Jose State University in San Jose, California. At that time, the sandwich shack (in a building built in 1919 and less than 1000 square feet) was so small that only four people at a time could be inside and the sign out front read "Sandwiches To Go" with To Go being on the second line. In 1971 the shop was purchased by Mike Cobler, a local San Jose State University student. The second location was opened in downtown San Jose in 1974. The first franchise was sold in 1978.
In 1997, Togo’s was acquired by the Dunkin' Brands portfolio of fast-food restaurants. By 2001, there were...read more
College student Mike Cobler was tired of eating cafeteria food. With a limited budget, he set up a small sandwich shop in 1971 to serve his fellow students at San Jose State University in Northern California. Soon, lines were forming out the door for Cobler's sandwiches, and he opened another Togo's. The company began franchising in 1977, with shops serving sandwiches, salads, wraps and soups to customers on the West Coast.
The first "Togo’s" was opened in 1968 at 336 East William Street near San Jose State University in San Jose, California. At that time, the sandwich shack (in a building built in 1919 and less than 1000 square feet) was so small that only four people at a time could be inside and the sign out front read "Sandwiches To Go" with To Go being on the second line. In 1971 the shop was purchased by Mike Cobler, a local San Jose State University student. The second location was opened in downtown San Jose in 1974. The first franchise was sold in 1978.
In 1997, Togo’s was acquired by the Dunkin' Brands portfolio of fast-food restaurants. By 2001, there were approximately 350 Togo’s sandwich shops, serving more than 25 different types of sandwiches. On November 30, 2007, Togo's was acquired by Mainsail Partners, a San Francisco based private equity firm, in partnership with Tony Gioia, a former president of Baskin-Robbins. Tony Gioia is serving as chairman and chief executive officer of Togo's Holdings, LLC.
Read less