Chicago Sub Chain Celebrates 50 Years with 50 Hilarious Commercia

🎵 "Chicago's original submarine, Mr. Submarine!" 🎵

Be prepared to have that tune stuck in your head for the remainder of the day.

En route to visit my dad this weekend in the western suburbs of Chicago, Catherine and I had to make a detour on Friday night. 2025 marked the 50th anniversary of Mr. Submarine, a local submarine sandwich chain with deep roots in Chicago. Multiple generations of people known Mr. Submarine as the quintessential Chicago sub-shop in the area. Growing up, I actually ate at a Mr. Submarine before I ever even tried Subway.

Mr. Submarine is Celebrating 50 Years in a Hysterically Funny Way:

In effort to celebrate "50 years of decent subs," per their website, Mr. Submarine commissioned production on 50 different TV commercials that are absolutely sublime. Underscored by an often self-deprecating, tongue-in-cheek tone, these commercials feature everything from local Chicago celebrities to regular individuals.

One ad is a send-up of Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born Pope who just happens to be from Chicago. Another features former Chicago Sun-Times film critic Richard Roeper. Some just feature ordinary people, including my favorite, which is titled, "What a nice loving family!"

I'd say the only downside to some of these ads, including the one embedded above, is they appear to use AI. Tis pity, but I'm going to make the safe assumption that Mr. Submarine doesn't have the immense marketing budget of national chains. Besides, the star of these commercials is the writing itself, and that infuriatingly catchy jingle, which changes to fit the mood/spirit/theme of the spot.

Chicago Royalty in the Mr. Submarine Commercials:

As stated, several of these commercials feature recognizable Chicago personalities and TV staples, including:

About Mr. Submarine:

Mr. Submarine prioritizes no-frills submarine sandwiches made with fresh meats and delicious veggies. They also have irresistible garlic fries, with the "large" portion so plentiful and filling that it could serve as a meal in itself. Beyond subs, they also offer pizza puffs, soups, and salads.

You can watch all 50 of Mr. Submarine's 50th Anniversary commercials on YouTube, and read more about their celebrations on their website. You can also visit their website to see their full menu and learn about their history in Chicago.