One of the best Subway promotion deals of all time could be going away forever

While I was a young college kid who probably could've been a bit smarter with his money, I spent a lot of time in Subway. There was one right at my student union, and even though I could probably make a sandwich on my own for a lot less money, that... sounds like effort, to be honest.

Whether you're into Meatball Marinara or a Subway Melt, whether you like Italian Herbs & Cheese or if you're wrong, there's plenty of things to appreciate when you're at Subway. One of my favourite things, as a young impressionable student, is the idea that you could go to Subway and have a hefty sandwich, plus a drink, all for one nominal fee.

But for many 18-year-olds who are preparing to head to college for the first time over the coming days and weeks, that $5 for a foot-long sandwich and a drink promotion will be a relic of the past, like group watches of Breaking Bad, or affordable student tuition fees. That's right, you guys, the Subway $5 promotion may be going away for good.

It's sometimes difficult to remember in this age of promotion after weird promotion, but everyone's favourite sandwich shop has fallen on hard times recently. At one point, there were more Subways than there were McDonald's locations in the United States (no mean feat, I'm sure you'll recognise), but they've been forced to chill out in recent times, closing as many as 500 stores nationwide back in April.

Debuting in the early 2000s, the $5 sandwich promotion was a big part of Subway's success, reports Money, but after a one-dollar increase in 2016 when franchises complained that it was getting too difficult to turn a profit, its popularity plummeted. It did return last winter, however, when enough customers saw fit to complain.

But now, it could be going away again, and this time, it might be for good. Whether or not you can get that special promotion does depend, however, on what part of the country you're in, though it's not quite clear for how long. Subway gave its franchisees the choice whether or not to continue the promotion, but there could be other options soon.

In San Francisco, for example, customers can get a six-inch sub for $3.99, while other places in California could see neat new ideas such as paninis. Subway CEO Trevor Haynes said that each different franchise will have a different idea of what's economically feasible, based on where they are and how much business they get.

"How do we help our franchises with more of a regional value message, so they're able to (have) a value proposition that fits with their economic model. If you look at California, there's a very different cost of business than in Arkansas."

"Affordable food is what we've always stood for," Haynes said, adding that although some of their competitors have leaned toward more wacky or gimmicky products in recent times, he'll be waiting to see if there's a profitable way to introduce them. "Maybe off-the-menu-type products or Unicorn-type drinks at some time, but it needs to be profitable and successful for our franchisees," Haynes said.

After a difficult couple of years, it could be just what this wobbling giant of a franchise needs.