#4: Blimpie

In 1964, three friends in Hoboken set out to redefine the sandwich game, launching Blimpie with a vision and a bit of flair. Instead of calling their creations “subs” or “hoagies,” they wanted something distinctive—spotting the word “blimp” in a dictionary, they knew they had their name.

The concept took off, and when a close friend became their first franchisee for just $600, the dream quickly became reality. What started as a single shop soon grew into a beloved chain, proving that sometimes, a simple idea—and the right name—can turn an ordinary sandwich into something extraordinary.