What Happened to Clark's Submarine Sandwich?
Well, they went out of business!
Yeah, that's the short answer.
But more importantly, what happened to each individual Clark's Submarine Sandwich store? Once there were 15 of them scattered around the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area, but they were all gone by 1991. Clark's still has a small but loyal following around town, and a reputation built off the bread, thinly sliced onions and most important, the sandwich oil that was it's signature.
While the chain is long gone, I want to know just how gone is it?
For example, my hometown had a Clark's Submarine Sandwiches, and that building is still standing.
Former Clark's Submarine Sandwich Location: 401 Northdale Blvd. Coon Rapids
Back in October 2006, the building had long been sitting empty, but was still in good shape.
Clark's Scorecard! Former restaurant location: STANDING.
STANDING: 1/15
DEMOLISHED: 0/15
As a kid, they made my favorite sub sammich, and I've spent the rest of my life trying to find a sammich as good as a Clark's Submarine Sandwich. The old location at the Northdale and Foley intersection was a convenient stop for my family while out running errands. My mom did a lot of shopping/bill paying at Northdale Shopping Center, just across the street. Sub sammiches were picked up fairly often.
Throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area, Clark’s Submarine Sandwiches started disappearing in 1988-89. By 1991, the chain was gone and their trademarks were abandoned.
The Coon Rapids Clark's restaurant was converted into a Cousins Subs, not too long after Clark's closed. Freelance Dan worked at Cousins Subs, back when he was actively portraying his role as Freelance Dan. For some inexplicable reason, I never ate at Cousins Subs. I probably should have. After Cousins closed, every time I would drive by it, I would look in the windows and see a really sad looking office chair randomly stuck in the middle of the dining area, with the plastic booths already removed. Wish I had a photo of that...
Some may have preferred d’Angelo’s Subs, who also have a small but loyal following around town.
But Subway will never count... I want a sammich to taste like a sammich, not a corporate flavor. No matter what you get from Subway, it tastes like Subway. And that's not a good flavor.
Oh, and Hal Caesar! Subway in Del Norte, Colorado, would like you to come in and try the new Chicken Caesar Melt. Better hurry before the perfectly weighed out meat gets too slimy from sitting between wax paper for three weeks.
The conversion of Abandoned Cousins to Dunn Bros Coffee all happened when I was living in Colorado. Where I continued my search for a sub sammich as good as Clark's. Luckily, Englewood had a couple of good sammich options.
One of my regular stops was Sub Center.
Lenny's Sub Shop was only open for a few years in Englewood, but their Italian sub brought back great memories of what Clark's Submarine Sandwich used to offer. In addition, Lenny's made one of the best Philly Cheesesteaks you could get in Colorado.
Unfortunately, they up and left the Denver metro area with no notice. Went there for an Italian sub one afternoon in August, 2013, and the store was being cleared out. It was soon replaced by an Asian Bistro.
That didn't make a Philly Cheesesteak...
A couple of years later, a Jersey Mike’s opened a few blocks north of my apartment, and they became my sammich shop of choice. Their Italian sub compared very close to what Lenny's had to offer, and a Philly Cheesesteak, just a couple notches below. Still not a fan of the Jersey Mike's Meatball sub, as the sauce doesn't seem quite right.
Luckily, there's a Jersey Mike's a couple of blocks from our house in Crapids, MN. So I don't have to go too far for my sammich fix.
But it's still not Clark's!
Several old Clark's black and white newspaper advertisements are scanned and available through newspapers.com. Including this one from 1980, which provided the basis for this story.
"Our submarines begin with a fresh Italian roll, we then add Swiss cheese, fresh lettuce, red garden tomato, mild Bermuda onions, out own special seasoning sauce, and your choice of meat."
The ad featured a listing of the street addresses for all 15 Clark's Submarine Sandwich locations, as of January 1980.
This gives me an idea!
I will enter each restaurant's address into Google, and see what is going on at Clark's, 40 years later! (Or whatever date the Google Van drove by it.) That way I can keep score of how many former Clark's are still standing or have been demolished. It'll be like investigative journalism without leaving my office!
Since I've already covered the old Coon Rapids location, let's hit the rest of them!
In no particular order...
Former Clark's Submarine Sandwich Location: 1199 W 7th St., St. Paul
As of June 2019, this former Clark's is operating as the Tavial Grill. While I'm not entirely certain, this building certainly has the appearance of a Clark's Submarine Sandwich restaurant of the past. One that has undergone some renovations in that time. But I'm going to conclude this was once a Clark's.
Clark's Scorecard! Former restaurant location: STANDING.
STANDING: 2/15
DEMOLISHED: 0/15
Former Clark's Submarine Sandwich Location: 7th & Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis
The Clark's ad didn't list a full street address for this restaurant, so when I typed it into Google Maps, it dropped me off in front of the Mayo Clinic (in June 2019). This corner of the intersection used to be the cluster of old run down buildings and shady businesses known as Block E. Which was demolished decades ago. But Clark's could have been amongst them.
However, I think it was across the street, on the southeast corner of 7th & Hennepin. That building is a multi-story office/warehouse space with retail on the sidewalk level. It's mostly vacant today, but in the 1980's was booming with small businesses. Without proof, I'm saying it was there instead of Block E. Which means the building is still there.
Clark's Scorecard! Former restaurant location: STANDING.
STANDING: 3/15
DEMOLISHED: 0/15
Former Clark's Submarine Sandwich Location: 4621 Central Ave. NE, Columbia Heights
The Columbia Heights Clark's was open as a NY Gyro in October 2018. While not the sub sammich shop's classic color scheme, this is definitely Clark's classic architecture.
Clark's Scorecard! Former restaurant location: STANDING.
STANDING: 4/15
DEMOLISHED: 0/15
Wow, nothing has been torn down yet... I'm kinda surprised!
What a charismatic guy!
And I really want that race car!
As awesome as that was, I was hoping for the one animated Clark’s commercial with the 100 foot Clark's hat and mustache guy stomping around Minneapolis looking for sammiches. That's the one I remember seeing as a kid.
Former Clark's Submarine Sandwich Location: 1670 Snelling Ave. N, Falcon Heights
Some point between 1991 and June 2019, saw the removal of Clark's and construction of these condopartments. Unless they were actually really old and well maintained, with a sub sammich restaurant occupying one of the bottom floor living spaces. But I'm pretty confident that it's new...
Clark's Scorecard! Former restaurant location: DEMOLISHED.
STANDING: 4/15
DEMOLISHED: 1/15
Newspapers.com dates this ad as from 1975. The promotion is only available the Bloomington Clark's, and shows different artwork than any other Clark's ad I've seen.
Wonder if any reps from The Beatles tried to sue for copyright infringement? That's a Blue Meanie away from a massive lawsuit. But if you were a holder, that coupon for a free yummy delicious sammich would need to be redeemed here:
Thanks to the city of Bloomington's facebook page for this photo. It's nice of them to share it since this is what Google tells me is at the address today:
Former Clark's Submarine Sandwich Location: 9801 Aldrich Ave. S, Bloomington
Oh Walgreens... Must you build everywhere?
(Photo from June 2019. Not that it really matters, all Walgreens buildings look the same over the last 20 years.)
Clark's Scorecard! Former restaurant location: DEMOLISHED.
STANDING: 4/15
DEMOLISHED: 2/15
Former Clark's Submarine Sandwich Location: 66th & Penn Ave. S, Richfield
Clark's Scorecard! Former restaurant location: DEMOLISHED.
STANDING: 4/15
DEMOLISHED: 3/15
Of the 11 Clark's Submarine Sandwich restaurants open for business in April 1977, this was not one of them.
Former Clark's Submarine Sandwich Location: 825 E 7th St. & Arcade, St. Paul
I'm not sure if Clark's operated out of this abandoned building, or one on either side that is now missing. Google snapped this photo in June 2019, but it looks like that structure hasn't seen customers in a long time. For the sake of my Clark's Scorecard, I'm going to say that it's customers were at one time buying submarine sandwiches.
Clark's Scorecard! Former restaurant location: STANDING.
STANDING: 5/15
DEMOLISHED: 3/15
Former Clark's Submarine Sandwich Location: 1264 S Robert St., West St. Paul
From the shape of the building, I think it's safe to say this restaurant once sold Clark's subs. But in September 2016, it was -and maybe still is- Ali Baba's King of Gyros.
Clark's Scorecard! Former restaurant location: STANDING.
STANDING: 6/15
DEMOLISHED: 3/15
Former Clark's Submarine Sandwich Location: 2426 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis
Probably safe to say that this new construction (well, new in August 2017) was not once a Clark's.
Clark's Scorecard! Former restaurant location: DEMOLISHED.
STANDING: 6/15
DEMOLISHED: 4/15
The next former Clark's is definitely not an original Clark's restaurant...
Former Clark's Submarine Sandwich Location: 5358 West Broadway, Crystal
Google dates this picture as September 2018, and this Burger King is built in their early 1990's architectural style. Chances are once the former Clark's property became available, the King snapped it up, scraped it and built a new flame broiler on top. Which is rather curious to me, because if you turned 180 degrees around, you'd be staring at a McDonalds. Apparently burgers are in a much higher demand than sub sammiches in this part of Crystal.
Clark's Scorecard! Former restaurant location: DEMOLISHED.
STANDING: 6/15
DEMOLISHED: 5/15
Perhaps Crystal needed the following sales pitch to diversify it's tastes:
"Enjoy the delicious taste of our hard Italian Salami Submarine now specially priced at 99 cents. The Italian Salami is considered the King of Salamis. It is a smoked savory blend of spices aged to develop it's distinctive flavorful taste. Every Italian Salami Sub also includes crisp garden lettuce, red tomato, mild Bermuda onion, Swiss cheese, our special Italian seasoning sauce all on a chewy soft roll. Try a zesty Italian Salami Sub now for only 99 cents through August 29, 1982. No coupons required."
*Regular price was up to $1.79 in 1982.
"There's always another good sandwich to discover at Clark's."
My dad had a friend at his job back in the 80's, that also ran a Dry Cleaners in St. Paul. One day (I'm pretty sure it was in the Spring of 1987) he drove out to the shop to do some welding to repair a faulty clothes carousel. I went along to be the go-fer when they needed something or to hold something in place. Mostly I just sat at the front desk with a couple of Mad Magazines, a boombox and a handful of Dr. Demento cassettes.
The shop owner was a Russian immigrant, and spoke choppy English with a thick accent. He was very nice to me, and became overly excited when my Dr. Demento cassette played Hungarian Goulash. This was a recording from 1957, of comedian Allen Sherman performing with the Boston Pops Orchestra. The song they played under his lyrics about different foreign foods was a traditional Russian song that he knew well. He sang along with it in Russian, then I explained what the recording was after it was over.
I think I made his day!
Former Clark's Submarine Sandwich Location: 647 University Ave., St. Paul
In June 2019, the former Clark's was a Hickory Hut Express.
Clark's Scorecard! Former restaurant location: STANDING.
STANDING: 7/15
DEMOLISHED: 5/15
The next two photos came from St. Louis Park History.org, which features a nice write up on the timeline of this Clark's of the past, dating back to it's late 1920's roots as a gas station.
Former Clark's Submarine Sandwich Location: 4300 Excelsior Blvd., St. Louis Park
According to the St. Louis Park's history website:
"From 1971 to 1989, it was Big Hut/Clark’s Submarine Sandwich Shop, owned by Clark Armstead."
May 2019, the new building on the site is Annex by Opus.
Clark's Scorecard! Former restaurant location: DEMOLISHED.
STANDING: 7/15
DEMOLISHED: 6/15
The next photo is from Studio Z-7 Archives on flickr.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this story, Clark's Submarine Sandwich closed all locations by 1990(-ish). I don't know the degree that a national chain (Yawbus!) spreading through the Twin Cities in the late 1980's did to hurt the local chain, but I'm sure it had an effect...
So in order to compete, you gotta roll out some gimmicks, in hopes of bringing the masses back...
From the Minneapolis Star Tribune, September 1, 2010. A Clark's related nugget from a piece about local history of the Croissant:
"Yikes. But between 1975 and 1985, the Twin Cities experienced a croissant awakening of epic proportions. "Today the croissant has become almost as pervasive as the BLT, finding its niche on restaurant menus as varied as Burger King, Perkins and the New French Cafe," wrote Dean, pointing out that they'd also become a staple in supermarket freezer cases via Sara Lee and, a few months earlier, had even made their debut at Clark's Submarine Sandwiches (as the Clar'ssant), a Twin Cities-based chain."
I remember the Clar'ssant being marketed, but I never ate one. I was just unwilling to bypass my normal Clark’s Submarine Sandwich, in order to try the "new" rage in bread technology.
And I definitely remember this campaign...
It goes to discuss the new Mediterranean Meatball, French Muffelleta, Italian Roast Beef and the American Ham & Cheese. With these four subs, Clark's also introduced new bread options:
"With our Hot Heroes, you get your choice of two new hearth baked hard rolls. French Style White or Cracked Wheat. These new rolls are crunchy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside. Clark's Submarine researched different rolls for over two years to discover the perfect roll. It had to be the right length, thickness and flavor to enhance the ingredients inside."
Really hard selling the bread there Clark's... I mean after all, coming up with a choice between WHITE and WHEAT bread for a sandwich is pretty groundbreaking...
The flavor goes crunch.
Former Clark's Submarine Sandwich Location: 2114 E. Lake St., Minneapolis
A parking lot in July 2015.
Pretty safe call here.
Clark's Scorecard! Former restaurant location: DEMOLISHED.
STANDING: 7/15
DEMOLISHED: 7/15
And the top use for a former Clark's Submarine Sandwich location...
Drum roll please...
Dramatic pause...
More drums...
Lemme hear tha otha instrumentz!
Former Clark's Submarine Sandwich Location: 1567 White Bear Ave., St. Paul
Pizza Man!
At least it still was a Pizza Man in May 2019. And that is absolutely an old Clark's building.
When the snow melts, I need to head down there for pictures. Replacing my favorite sub sammich place with my favorite local pizza chain? And it looks so awesome and crappy! St. Paul, you're doing it right!
Clark's Scorecard! Former restaurant location: STANDING.
STANDING: 8/15
DEMOLISHED: 7/15
So when we add up the numbers, there are 8 former Clark's restaurants still standing in various forms. There are 7 former Clark's that have been demolished. Which means that by a hair, Clark's Submarine Sandwich still remains more intact than not.
Some 30 years since it's last sub was served.
That logo is iconic.
But it reminds me of someone...
That's it!
The only place that has subs close to Clark's is "Cup and Cone" in White Bear Lake. I get one with Italian bread, capicola, salami, onions, lettuce tomato, banana peppers, and extra Italian dressing. I've had many people try it and they concur. You can order online and pick up at the side window since the ice cream line is always long.
ReplyDeleteSome interesting notes about Clark's - Clark Armstrong is still alive and well and occasionally posts on the "Old St. Paul" page on Facebook. The stores closed simply because he was ready to retire. None of the kids wanted to continue the business. (What a shame!) I think he missed the huge opportunity to franchise the business. That is the route that Red Savoy's pizza has gone. You can still reap the rewards having built a great chain brand, but don't have the daily grind of the restaurant biz to tend to.
Another interesting note - the Clark's location on Snelling became the first and original location for Dino's Gyros. Another home grown brand that has expanded into a successful chain. Dino's eventually tore down the original building to make it larger for their expanding business.
I agree with this assessment! Cup N Cone even calls one of their subs "Mixed Cold Cuts," which was one of the subs available at Clark's. It's as close as I've ever come to eating Clark's again. The oil and the quantity of lettuce and onions is accurate, as is the white American cheese. Damn, I gotta go get one now...!
DeleteThe Richfield one on 66th was across the street. Looks to be demolished still anyways.
ReplyDeleteBased on Google map street view as of 8/30/2021, I think the building is still there. It was one of the newer style locations , and it became a Cousin's after Clark's went out. I used to frequent both, and in fact applied for a job at that Clark's.
DeleteI for the of me have been trying to come across a commercial Scott Ledoux did for Clarks with a boy of about 4 5 or 6. I think it was an anniversary commercial done in the early to mid 80 s
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures and research! I'm familiar with the old Clark's building in Coon Rapids, near where I live. I never knew its history before now.
ReplyDeleteBut, after chatting with a friend who used to live in Richfield, you may be wrong about the Clark's on 66th and Penn. The CVS sits where the old Kinsmor Drug store used to be. Across Penn Ave. is a Subway. Before that, it was a Flowerama (confirmed on Google Street from September, 2007). My friend says the Clark's was in that building. The old Flowerama looks a lot like the old Clark's in Coon Rapids. FYI.
I can confirm the building located on the NorthEast corner of 66th and Penn was formally a Clarks Sub. It became a Cousins Sub at one time after. After that, became the flower shop. Now back to a sub sandwich shop.
DeleteAnd another update: I found an old TV ad on YouTube that mentioned the Clark's at 7th and Arcade. But I don't think it was the abandoned building you identified in the photo, above. That building is 829 East 7th Street. 825 Arcade St. is the building behind and to the left, with the red trim. That MAY be the Clark's, especially since that building is very similar to the photo of the former Clark's at 1264 S Robert St. in West St. Paul (which has a blue trim instead of red).
DeleteP.S. and FYI: 825 Arcade St. is now Taqueria los Paisanos.
DeleteWorked at Park Jeep.1972 would Cross river at noon for So Henipen I think . Would get the Atomic I think around 3 bucks my car smelled like oil n vinegar for a couple days. Can truly say nobody did subs better. Thanks for memories 🍻
ReplyDeleteNo one even tries to make ham salad. Clark’s had the BEST ham salad ever.
DeleteThe Hot Hero ad says there were 16 locations at that time. I wonder where the 16th was?
ReplyDeleteClark's truly was and is the best submarine sandwich ever, and I've been searching for a replacement for 30 years. It's gotten to the point where I've begun making my own Clark's subs and have replicated the Mixed Cold Cuts sub down to everything but the bread—I just can't seem to find a suitable replacement for that soft, chewy, tasty bread. Heck, if you look hard enough online, you can find former Clark's employees who have posted the recipe for the famous sub oil...but I still can't find the bread. Damn!
ReplyDeleteI remember going to the State Fair from morning until night, then heading to the Clark’s on Snelling & Larpenteur after the Fair closed. AFTER THE FAIR! After an entire day of fair food-eating! If that doesn’t tell you how crave-able Clark’s subs were, I don’t know what will. I vividly remember riding in the Space Needle and spotting Clark’s once we got high enough above the tree line to see it. Could not WAIT to get there for that Mixed Cold Cuts with tons of lettuce and onion.
So, around five years ago or so I was driving home from work and saw on a gas station’s digital sign that they were selling “Original Clark’s Submarine Sandwiches.” I almost crashed my car! I stopped in, asked around the store, and was directed to a cold case to the left of their pizza/sandwich/lunch counter. There, at the bottom of the cold case was a half sub in a plastic container labeled “Mixed Cold Cuts Sub.” I snatched it up. Then, I stopped by the lunch counter and talked to the guy in the back about it. I told him about how much I used to love Clark’s and how excited I was to find one again, and he said the owner of the gas station knew Clark Armstead and was given the recipe by Clark himself to use in his gas station! Anyway, I got it home, tried it, and it was pretty recognizable as Clark’s. The meats, cheese, and onion were on point, as was the sub oil (what there was of it, anyway). Honestly, the bread seemed like French bread to me (too much bread) and there wasn’t enough lettuce, but otherwise it checked all of the boxes.
I haven’t been back there in a few years, but the gas station is Lang’s One Stop Market in Edina at 5101 Edina Industrial Blvd. Worth checking out to see if they're still making them...!
Any idea where I can find the dressing recipe?
DeleteIn a squirt bottle, I go equal parts vegetable oil and the juice from a jar of cherry peppers, with a tsp or so of garlic powder. It's solid.
DeleteMe and my not yet husband use to go there in the 70’s. I’m forever chasing that same sub. Nothing compares. I’m stuck with subway and always get oil and vinegar because that’s what I got at Clark’s. It’s always a disappointment but it is a better alternative to other fast foods in my area.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the trip down memory lane. I loved Clark's as a kid/teen and have been looking for a replacement ever since. I found the oil recipe a few years ago and made it and it was spot on. However, the recipe I really want is for the ham salad! I've never seen ham salad at any other sub shop and the stuff that you can buy in grocery store delis isn't even close. I've tried making it myself and it just wasn't the same.
ReplyDeleteMust tell the story ! I grew up in Coon Rapids too ! Loved the Clark’s Subs and the Cherry Shakes , would eat there often and the One in Bloomington Mn as well . I Also found the closest thing to Clark’s is now Jersey Mikes . I frequent the one in StLouis Park Mn and actually was just telling the Young and friendly Manager how much they do remind me of good ole Clark’s - Small world .
ReplyDeleteThe last time I was at Clark’s (White Bear Ave in St Paul) was in 1988. I moved to Florida & have yet to find anything that compares to Clark’s subs. When I was pregnant (living less than a mile from Clark’s) I craved Clark’s so went there nearly every week. Great memories but God I miss that place.
ReplyDeleteNow that you refreshed my memory, the Pizza Man shop on White Bear Ave. the building looks familiar. Clarks Sub it was. I liked Clarks Subs. Though I don't remember what it was that I liked about it. Maybe the coupon deals. Don't know that I went often but certainly remember going there and the one on 7th and Arcade maybe. The Hickory Hut on University, I don't recognize as a former Clarks. But they do put out some decent BBQ for this city.
ReplyDeleteI lived right by the one on Central and ate there often and the one downtown occasionally. I remember finally asking my mom exactly what a "cold cut" was when I was about 4 in Clark's. I still miss the subs and the SMELL so much. Jersey Mike's is the closest I've had but not the same.
ReplyDeleteOur Clark's sub's was on 76th and Florist in Milwaukee Wi. Loved the chicken salad sub!
ReplyDeleteI ate a the cousins sub in coon rapids everytime I was in the area, so good! & yes, subway does not compare sadly.
ReplyDelete