March 22, 2010 – A Subway restaurant will open this spring at Marina City, the franchisee confirmed on Monday.

William Torchia, President and CEO of Fifth Day Restaurants, LLC, of Peoria, says the Subway franchise should be open sometime in May.

The restaurant will be located in a long-vacant space at the base of the west tower at Marina City, on the plaza level.

“We are in for permits now and plan to start construction soon,” says Torchia, who has been a Subway franchisee for more than 20 years. A specific opening date has not been set yet.

“I look forward to serving the residents of Marina City breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week.”

(Above) This space, as seen last July, will soon be turned into a Subway restaurant at the base of the west tower at Marina City. (Click on image to view larger version.) On Monday, dark paper went up in the windows.

The Subway chain of restaurants was founded in 1965 by a 17-year-old college freshman, Fred DeLuca, and a family friend, Dr. Peter Buck. DeLuca’s original goal was to make enough money to pay for college tuition.

The first restaurant opened in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and was called Pete’s Super Submarines. There are now 31,000 Subway franchises in 91 countries. Each franchise is independently owned and operated. There are more than 200 Subway restaurants in Chicago, including one at 447 North State Street, two blocks north of Marina City.

According to the Subway web site, Turkey Breast, Italian B.M.T., Tuna, and the Subway Club are some of its most popular sandwiches.

In January 2000, Subway began a memorable series of television commercials featuring Jared Fogle, who lost 245 pounds eating nothing by Subway sandwiches for almost a year.

In 1988, the space was used by Dollar Rent-A-Car. According to a report filed with Circuit Court of Cook County, the car rental business paid $2,216.66 per month in rent.