Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell today announced that the state has “entered into a sweeping, long-term concession agreement to transform all 23 (highway) service plazas with more restaurant choices and stores and upgraded comfort facilities.”
The state Department of Transportation struck the 35-year deal with Doctors Associates/Paul Landino (DAI) which represent the Subway sandwich chain.
Subway will rest control of many of Connecticut’s rest stops from McDonald’s, which has serviced travelers since 1985 – the year McDonald’s added salads to its menu, four years after the McRib was sold nationwide and six years after the introduction of the chicken nugget. Yes, it’s been a loooooong time.
And now residents and those passing through the state can look forward to eating Subway sandwiches for 35 years.
Just imagine. It’s the year 2044. You’re flying your solar-powered ship into one of these Subways, ordering a futuristic meatball grinder in pill form from a holographic employee and heading back to the hover lot, passing a man who looks like an aged Subway spokesman Jared Fogel who keeps shouting “It’s people. It’s made out of peoooople!!!”
And yes, I-95 in lower Fairfield County will still be a commuter’s nightmare.
I’m glad that with the economy at a standstill and DOT unable to complete or approve projects they had time to spend seven months negotiating about which fast food restaurants people will be able to urinate in — you know, when taking a break from being stuck in traffic.
Comment by PorknBeans — November 20th, 2009 @ 3:50 pm
Like the Soylent Green reference. Remember the Twilight Zone episode: To Serve Man
Comment by Jim Finley — November 20th, 2009 @ 4:19 pm
Dude, you are a riot. How clever is this. Anyway..at least its better food quality. Better for the all the chubby kids we are making and chubby moms and dads too. Maybe we should build more roads. I like this idea. Makes everyone feel better. More roads, more cars, more Subways, more jobs, more roads, more cars, more subways, more jobs…see how it works..
Comment by Chris — November 20th, 2009 @ 7:07 pm
I wonder if this will mean the end of drive-throughs at rest-stops. I’ve never seen a drive-through Subway.
Comment by Lisa from Trumbull — November 21st, 2009 @ 1:14 pm
shouldnt private companies i;e McDonalds, Mobile gas, Subway etc pay for the renervation of C.T”s rest stops.
Comment by mike — November 22nd, 2009 @ 12:04 am
In 1985 I was a jr in high school!
Comment by John R. McCommas — November 22nd, 2009 @ 2:47 pm
There are a number of drive thru Subway shops. I think Meriden has two of them, right off the hiway so don’t worry….
Comment by On the bright side — November 23rd, 2009 @ 7:27 am
c”mon c.t you can do better than that, I would rather have Dutchess restaurants, Dominos Pizza, and Starbucks. whats better than that?
Comment by mike — November 27th, 2009 @ 10:15 pm