Capriotti's Sandwich Shop has opened 12 restaurants and awarded development rights for 30 additional locations in the first half of 2026, marking a substantive midyear update for the Las Vegas-based fast-casual chain as it marks its 50th anniversary.

The new openings have pushed the brand into several previously untapped markets, including Lake County, Illinois; Killeen, Texas; Tempe, Arizona; Southern Utah; Charleston, South Carolina; and Fort Wayne, Indiana. With more than 150 units now operating across the U.S., Capriotti's is targeting 750 locations by 2032 — a pace that requires sustained franchise recruitment and construction execution through the back half of this decade.

The '50-50-50' Play

Driving much of the recruitment activity is the brand's "50-50-50" anniversary initiative, which offers qualified incoming franchise partners up to $50,000 in savings through discounted franchise fees and royalties. The program is designed to onboard 50 new franchise partners during the brand's 50th year. Incentive-based franchise programs have become a common lever in fast-casual expansion strategy, particularly as rising build-out costs and lending conditions have made entry-level economics a key differentiator for prospective operators.

"Our 50th anniversary is all about creating momentum for the future while we celebrate our history," said Ashley Morris, CEO of Capriotti's Sandwich Shop. "The growth we've seen through the first half of the year shows the strength of our brand and our franchise partners."

Recognition and Rankings

Beyond unit growth, the brand collected notable industry recognition in the first half of 2026. Capriotti's ranked No. 12 on Fast Casual's Top 100 Movers & Shakers List — its sixth consecutive appearance on the annual ranking. Vice President of Marketing Tamara Stanley was also named among the publication's Top 30 Movers & Shakers in Restaurant Marketing, a signal that the brand's operator-facing and consumer marketing infrastructure is gaining wider industry credibility.

Earlier this year, Capriotti's convened franchise partners from across the country at its annual Leadership Summit in Las Vegas, using the gathering to recognize standout operators and align the system around second-half growth priorities. Events like these serve a dual purpose in franchise development: reinforcing culture for existing partners while functioning as a recruitment proof point for prospective ones — a dynamic well-documented in franchise hospitality operations.

Founded in 1976, Capriotti's built its identity around slow-roasting whole Butterball® turkeys in-house daily, a from-scratch differentiator that continues to anchor its menu positioning against a crowded sandwich-segment competitive set. Signature items include The Bobbie®, Cole Turkey, and American Wagyu Cheesesteaks. The brand also operates a loyalty program, Capriotti's Rewards, which supports repeat-visit frequency across its growing footprint.

With the development pipeline loaded and fee incentives still on the table, the brand's ability to convert those 30 newly awarded rights into opened locations will be the metric to watch through the remainder of 2026.

Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.