Subway sandwich shops getting a makeover

MILFORD, CONNECTICUTT - Subway Restaurants is abandoning its cityscape mural design in favor of an Old World-inspired look, including softer lighting, brick wall coverings, gold stucco and porcelain stone-like floor tiles. <br> <br> So far, 57 shops in the United States, Canada and England have the new look. Most of the shops are newly constructed, but some are older stores that have been remodeled, said company spokeswoman Annie Smith. <br> <br> ``We wanted everything to enhance our message of fresh, great-tasting sandwiches, and the look of the Tuscany decor is very fresh,&#39;&#39; she said. <br> <br> It&#39;s the first such overhaul for the chain, which Smith said eventually will phase out its yellow-and-green color scheme. While the chain recommends the new decor to store owners, it&#39;s still optional. <br> <br> ``The more the franchisees see it, the more they like it,&#39;&#39; she said. <br> <br> She could not say how much it would cost the average restaurant owner to adopt the new design. But not all are ready to remodel. <br> <br> Mohammad Ghafoor, who owns four Subway restaurants, estimates that it could cost $400,000 to $500,000 to remodel each one. And since Ghafoor, like most Subway franchisees, leases the property at his shops, he doesn&#39;t have as much incentive to upgrade as franchisees who own their property. <br> <br> An industry analyst says store owners who remodel or build using the new design will benefit. Other fast-food restaurants have reported sales increases of up to 30 percent after updating their decor, said Lea Davis, editor of QSR, a magazine for the quick-service restaurant industry. <br> <br> Subway, which recently surpassed McDonald&#39;s in the number of stores in the United States, opened 904 locations last year. Subway now has 13,268 locations nationwide and nearly 16,000 worldwide.