Morganton’s Subway locations are temporarily closed, with uncertain return

Update: July 7, this story was updated to add new information about the stores' current ownership. 

All of Morganton’s Subway locations are temporarily closed, with no signs of when they might reopen.

Residents have been vocal on social media, saying that the food is diminishing in quality, the stores are always missing key ingredients and lacking employees. Others pointed to the corporation closing locations all across the country.

Former owner Angela Buchanan assured that the closures are not due to issues at the corporate level as all Subway locations are independently owned and operated.

All three Subway locations were closed Monday. The location at 1255 Burkemont Ave. had a sign taped to the door stating that the store is temporarily closed. The 107 Independent Blvd. location had a similar taped sign, though this one simply said “Closed.” Over at the Subway at 100 E. Fleming Drive near Roses, no closure sign was posted, but the store was locked. A “now hiring” sign still sits outside the Fleming Drive location.

Buchanan previously owned and successfully ran the three locations for 35 years before selling them to William Parish on January 5, 2022.

Not all Subway locations in the county are closed. Buchanan's location in Rutherford College Subway at 302 Malcolm Blvd. is open. Other nearby locations include Lenoir’s stores at 1660 Connelly Springs Road, 2120 Morganton Blvd. in Harpers Crossing Shopping Center, and 935 Blowing Rock Blvd. Subway also has locations in Granite Falls at 3950 Hickory Blvd. and in Marion at 3308 N.C. 226.

More than 1,600 Subway locations have closed between 2022 and 2024. Of those closures, 67 were in North Carolina, according to research from USA Today. Spruce Pine’s Subway location has also been temporarily closed. Subway has removed all three Morganton locations from the map on their website.

For other sub options, Morganton has Firehouse Subs at 905 N. Green St., Jersey Mike’s Subs at B114 Morganton Heights Blvd., Jimmy John’s at 402 W. Fleming Drive, and Food Matters Market and Cafe at 210 Avery Ave. Locals on social media recommend Chubby’s of Valdese, The Pie Hole in Morganton, and Foxhole Pizza and Subs in Glen Alpine.