The Subway House
Today, my parents finalized the sale of the house I grew up in in New York. We moved in during the summer of 1999. I was starting middle school, and my brother was starting second grade. About a year ago, when digging up housing records, my father made a very interesting discovery about the house: The second owners were Peter and Haydee Buck - the house was sold to them in March of 1965 - and Peter was the co-founder of Subway, the fast food chain.
The story goes like this:
Recent high school graduate Fred DeLuca was looking to get his medical degree and asked a family friend - Peter Buck - for a loan to help pay tuition...at a BBQ...presumably at our house! Instead, Peter gave Fred a $1,000 loan to open a sandwich shop (the proceeds of which could be used to pay for Fred's tuition). Peter became Fred's business partner and helped open the first shop Bridgeport, Connecticut in August of 1965. Peter and Haydee stayed in the house until August of 1977. By 1974, Peter and Fred owned 16 stores throughout Connecticut and began to grant franchises. Today, there are over 44,500 Subway stores and the brand is worth about $7.1 billion USD.
...All of this means that Peter co-founded and grew the Subway business all while living in my family's house!
Now, what I can't seem to figure out is why there isn't a Subway within a 20 minute drive of that house. However, this is also the kind of town where an all-out, years-long, Town Hall battle ensued over opening a CVS. Target only came within a reasonable driving distance in 2005. *special-ness all around*
I'll forever treasure the memories we made at that house - and while a part of me is sad that the house is no longer ours, another part of me is happy that my parents don't have to maintain it anymore and that another couple gets to raise their family there.
with love (and Subway),
KB
P.S.
Peter, since you're worth $2.7 billion USD now, you might want to offer to re-do the insulation in the house - it's gonna be one hell of an electric bill!
The story goes like this:
 |
| My yard. Probably where Peter gave Fred the loan! |
...All of this means that Peter co-founded and grew the Subway business all while living in my family's house!
Now, what I can't seem to figure out is why there isn't a Subway within a 20 minute drive of that house. However, this is also the kind of town where an all-out, years-long, Town Hall battle ensued over opening a CVS. Target only came within a reasonable driving distance in 2005. *special-ness all around*
I'll forever treasure the memories we made at that house - and while a part of me is sad that the house is no longer ours, another part of me is happy that my parents don't have to maintain it anymore and that another couple gets to raise their family there.
with love (and Subway),
KB
P.S.
Peter, since you're worth $2.7 billion USD now, you might want to offer to re-do the insulation in the house - it's gonna be one hell of an electric bill!
 |
| A little throwback: Me after my high school graduation. Same yard! |
Comments
Post a Comment
Leave a comment