Cousins Subs and HMSHost Open First-Ever Airport Location at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport

Cousins Subs®, a Wisconsin-based fast casual sub shop known for its deli-fresh and grilled-to-order subs on fresh bread baked daily, is now open in Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport. Global restaurateur HMSHost operates the brand’s first-ever airport location in Concourse C, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The addition of Cousins Subs is a part of the airport’s expansion of dining and shopping brands and will provide travelers from around the world with Midwest-inspired made-to-order sandwiches and sides featuring Wisconsin meat and dairy products.

To provide a sneak peek at the experience guests will enjoy at the new location and how it came to be, we sat down with Cousins Subs Vice President of Development Joe Ferguson and HMSHost Director of Restaurant Development & Brand Portfolio Jordan Wroblewski.

Q: Why is HMSHost the right partner to operate a Cousins Subs restaurant?
JF; We believe HMSHost is the best partner for a multitude of reasons, rising to the top is their second-to-none experience in airport restaurant operations. They truly are a national leader in travel dining. We’re incredibly grateful for the opportunity to partner with the best in the travel business and join HMSHost’s collection of 300-plus unique brands, including national, local and proprietary concepts. Furthermore, we’re confident HMSHost and the nearly 14 employees operating the airport location will be great ambassadors of our brand.

Q: How does the opening of the first airport restaurant fit into Cousins Subs’ expansion plan?
JF; The opening of the first airport location fits seamlessly into our larger expansion plan rooted in contiguous multi-unit growth. We look for franchisees and partners that will expand and enhance our brand, and we know HMSHost will do just that.

We are proud to open our first airport location in our hometown, and we’re confident the millions of travelers that come through Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport will not only enjoy our Midwest-inspired cuisine, but will find our location in Concourse C to be extremely convenient. While many of our guests know and love our Cousins Subs brand, we look forward to introducing more guests from around the world to our deli-fresh and made-to-order subs and sides crafted with Wisconsin meats and cheeses.

Q: Will the airport location offer new menu items?
JF; To better serve our airport guests, we introduced breakfast to the menu. At as early as 4:30 a.m., guests can enjoy a made-to-order breakfast sandwich – featuring egg, cheese and ham, bacon or steak – and a side of hash browns.

For lunch and dinner, guests will enjoy our menu of deli-fresh and made-to-order sandwiches and indulgent sides, featuring our cheese steak sub, Wisconsin Mac & Cheese and Wisconsin Cheese Curds.

Q: Why is Cousins Subs a good addition to the dining brands at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport?
JW; At HMSHost, we aim to bring travelers the very best possible food choices while also representing the region’s local culture. Cousins Subs is a beloved hometown favorite that offers a portable, travel-friendly menu. Combined with the other dining choices at the airport, Cousins Subs will be an excellent fit.

Q: Why is Cousins Subs a great addition to your collection of brands?
JW; We’re extremely proud to partner with Cousins Subs and open up the brand’s first-ever airport location. We want Milwaukee natives and travelers alike to get an authentic taste of Wisconsin while offering something completely new and fresh to the airport arena. We’re happy to celebrate this milestone together and are looking forward to future opportunities for expansion with Cousins Subs.

Q: How many will the airport location employ?
JW; The opening of the airport location will create nearly 14 new jobs. If you are interested in joining our airport team, visit our website to apply.

Q: What are the location’s hours of operation?
JW; Cousins Subs in Concourse C at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport will be open all week long from 4:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. The restaurant will serve travelers 365 days a year. This new location is located post-security, so you will need a plane ticket to grab a bite.

About Cousins Subs

Wisconsin-based Cousins Subs®, a family-owned, fast casual sub shop established in 1972 by Bill Specht and his cousin, is driven by the mission to Believe in Better – both in the quality of food it serves and in the communities it supports. Cousins Subs and its franchisees operate nearly 100 sub sandwich shops throughout Wisconsin and Indiana, providing guests with quality deli fresh and made to order grilled subs using only the freshest ingredients on its signature bread baked daily. For more information, visit cousinssubs.com. You can also find Cousins Subs on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.