The map on there website shows 4 total, but nothing anywhere near the northeast. OP, move to Ankeny and open a Quizno's here stat!
Here is a good quick read on franchises. http://clark.com/business-entrepreneurs/franchise-ownership-is-it-right-for-you/ And Forbes ranking the best and worst franchises to buy https://www.forbes.com/best-worst-franchises-to-buy/#28e4dff82699
That is what happens when you are more expensive than your main competitor(s) and try and justify the higher price base largely on an entire ad campaign promoting the fact that you have hot subs vs their cold subs. Their competitors adjust by adding ovens. Quiznos is toast (pun intended).
Wasn't it a large part of the reason so many franchises closed that Quizno's insisted that franchises buy their ingredients from the Quizno's corporation, but they charged an exorbitant amount and it wasn't as fresh as local? I might have heard misinformation, but I thought that there was some issue with the supply back when the Ames and other ones closed. Edit - that was the original reason, yes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/karstenstrauss/2015/06/17/is-quiznos-toast/#22cdb9f322cd But I'd gather that higher price has hindered them from resurging since they restructured.
I also went to Pepperjax first as they are exploding. I knew they would after their first few locations in Omaha. DC might be a ways out of there area as of right now as name recognition helps drive business/marketing in the midwest. I think this would be an easy one though. Really small menu, limited ingredients to have on hand, fast to get users in and out so low staffing levels. Menu is pricey so hopefully decent margins. The only thing that could get you is how much they are charging you for their beef/chicken patties. It's insane what they try to sell them for in the stores.
Up-Down is the barcade in Des Moines. There is also one in Kansas City with an identical name and logo so I'll assume they are the same owner/franchise. http://www.updowndsm.com/ There is also a "franchise" called Barcade in the Northeast but according to their website they aren't franchising. Ricochet in Des Moines is a place where you pay a cover and get unlimited access to games like ping pong, pool, shuffleboard, etc. It's BYOB and a fun place to hang out. It's probably something you would have to start on your own rather than a franchise though. http://www.ricochetdsm.com/
Let's compromise on all these ideas. Cyhops should open up a weed dispensary where the only way you can get in or out is through his own restaurant.
Going to the Web and just having people throw stuff out tells me you don't have a clue what you want to do. That's a terrible environment to start a business in. You need something you're either good at or passionate about or its going to fail. Even if you are good or passionate the odds say it's still going to fail. Starting with nothing? Financial suicide.
I would be so scared to get into a franchise. I knew someone who got into a flooring franchise and the whole process probably ended up costing her $100k out of pocket to get out of. Another thing to think about is what's popular today may not be just a few years down the road. Just look back 10 years and some of the top franchises were Quiznos, Curves, Krispy Kreme, etc.
