Friday, February 3, 2012

Cousins, but not COUSINS

Midwesterners know that there are three sub sandwich chains which are spread throughout the upper Midwest. Jimmy John's, which has become nationally known, Milio's (formerly Big Mike's and based in Madison, WI), and Erbert & Gerbert's (based in Eau Claire, WI). Since I have enjoyed all three (E&G is my fave) and found them somewhat similar, I was curious to know if there was a relationship between them.

As it turns out, 'Jimmy John' Liautaud, who opened the first Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwich Shop near Eastern Illinois University in 1983, soon thereafter he helped his cousins 'Big Mike' Liautaud a.a.k.a. 'Milio' (which explains the former Big Mike's and current Milio's name choices) and Kevin Schippers (no similar correlation to either Erbert or Gerbert) set up similar shops with under different names, respectively. He had initially thought that they would be franchisees of Jimmy Johns, but they each decided to set up their own chains.

"They've been very successful with my sandwiches, 'Jimmy John' Liataud said. The cousins have mended hard feelings, but admitted that he was upset when the two entrepreneurs began competing against his chain. "At this point I expected them to be franchisees of mine, paying me," he said.

What I find humorous in all of this cousin sub shop history is that there is a Milwaukee sub shop which has also created a footprint in the Midwest but is unrelated to these three. It's name is rather ironic: Cousins Subs.