Subway plans Prague comeback in 2027 as it rebuilds its Czech restaurant network

Subway plans to open a new Prague restaurant in 2027 as part of an effort to rebuild its Czech network, which has shrunk from 21 locations to just four.

The expansion will be led by Emerging Bites, the chain’s new regional master franchise partner. It plans 300 restaurant openings over the next decade across Czechia, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia.

The company has not announced how many of those restaurants will be in Czechia or disclosed a location for the planned Prague opening. Its focus will include shopping centers and busy urban locations, according to iDNES.cz.

Subway entered Czechia in 2003 with its first Prague restaurant. The network reached 21 locations in 2017 and 2018, operating in cities including Brno, Ostrava, Olomouc, Zlín and Jihlava.

Four remain: three in Brno and one in Ostrava. Emerging Bites told iDNES.cz that two Prague restaurants still listed on Subway’s website had closed this year and that the listings were being updated.

“Our goal is clear: to bring Subway back with new, modern restaurants, starting in 2027,” Jan Čákora, the company’s franchise development manager, told the publication.

Existing Czech restaurants are also due for gradual refurbishment. Planned changes include digital menu boards, self-service ordering kiosks and a loyalty program, with customers expected to see the first updates next year.

Emerging Bites also intends to standardize the menu and invest in supply chains, marketing and operating standards. Made-to-order sandwiches, salads and wraps will remain the core offering.

The Czech plans form part of a broader international push. Subway aims to approximately double its restaurant count across Europe, the Middle East and Africa to 10,000 by 2031, Grocery Gazette reported Tuesday.

Over the past 18 months, the chain has signed six master franchise agreements covering 14 countries. The agreement with Emerging Bites covers the five Central European markets.

The Vienna-based company plans to operate more than half of the region’s new restaurants itself while supporting independent franchisees. It has not disclosed the value of its planned Czech investment.

Elsewhere, Subway is expanding its partnership with British supermarket group Asda, with plans for up to 70 additional restaurants within supermarket premises. It already operates more than 120 restaurants in Asda supermarkets.

Subway has more than 35,000 restaurants worldwide. Its Czech revival remains at the planning stage, with the proposed 2027 Prague opening set to be the first visible step in rebuilding a network that once had a much larger domestic presence.