Erbert & Gerbert's
Retailer / private label
UnclaimedErbert & Gerbert's is a Wisconsin-founded restaurant franchise known for submarine sandwiches and a distinctive bread-preparation method.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Erbert & Gerbert's is a privately held American restaurant franchise specializing in submarine sandwiches. The business was established in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, in 1987 by Kevin and Beth Schippers, with the first restaurant opening on Water Street in 1988. The brand's name comes from fictional characters in stories told to Kevin Schippers by his father, giving the chain a more personal and narrative identity than a conventional sandwich-shop name. The chain developed from its Wisconsin origin into a multistate franchise system. Its restaurants have been concentrated in the Upper Midwest and neighboring regions, with locations reported in Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio, Texas, and Wisconsin, together with one location each in North Carolina and Georgia. The company has been described as having more than 50 locations. Individual restaurants are often situated near colleges and universities, making student and campus-adjacent trade an important part of the brand's operating environment. The menu is centered on submarine sandwiches. The chain has offered 16 principal sandwiches, including products with names such as Halley's Comet and Comet Morehouse, alongside invented names including Girf and Narmer. Erbert & Gerbert's sandwiches are prepared using a recognizable bread technique: staff cut into the loaf, remove much of the soft white interior, and place the fillings on top of the remaining bread. This creates a product presentation and eating experience that differentiates the chain from standard filled sub sandwiches. Gluten-free products have also been available. A significant ownership and management transition occurred in 2003. Kevin Schippers, who wanted to pursue a career in ministry, sold the franchising company to investors led by Eric Wolfe. Schippers nevertheless retained ownership of the original Eau Claire restaurant. Before the sale, Schippers received the U.S. Small Business Administration's 2003 Emerging Small Business Person recognition in Wisconsin, reflecting the company's development as a regional small business. Marketing has been an important part of the brand's identity. In 2009, Erbert & Gerbert's received a Gold Effie Award for an advertising campaign created by Colle+McVoy. The company also marked its twentieth anniversary with a commercial that reportedly used what was presented as the world's largest air-vortex cannon. These activities illustrate the brand's preference for distinctive, memorable promotion rather than relying only on conventional restaurant advertising. Erbert & Gerbert's remains primarily a regional American sandwich franchise rather than a globally distributed consumer brand. Its core proposition combines submarine sandwiches, unusual menu nomenclature, a signature bread-preparation method, and locations that frequently serve college-area communities. Publicly available reference material does not establish a current chief executive, a current corporate parent, precise present-day store count, or a verified official website URL.
History
Erbert & Gerbert's began in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where Kevin and Beth Schippers established the business in 1987. The first restaurant opened on Water Street in 1988. The name was drawn from characters in stories told by Kevin Schippers's father, creating a distinctive personal origin for the brand. From its first store, the company developed a franchise model focused on submarine sandwiches and expanded beyond Wisconsin into a network of restaurants across several U.S. states. The chain's food concept is built around submarine sandwiches prepared in a characteristic way. Bread is cut open and much of the soft white interior is removed, with the fillings positioned on top of the remaining bread. This preparation became one of the brand's recognizable points of difference. Its menu included 16 submarine sandwiches, with names such as Halley's Comet, Comet Morehouse, Girf, and Narmer. Gluten-free products were also part of the offering described in reference material. Erbert & Gerbert's has frequently located restaurants near college communities. This has helped define its regional footprint and customer context, particularly in the Upper Midwest. The reported network expanded to more than 50 locations across Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio, Texas, and Wisconsin, as well as one restaurant each in North Carolina and Georgia. The available reference does not provide a current verified store count. In 2003, the company's founding owner made a strategic and personal transition. Kevin Schippers sold the franchising company to a group of investors led by Eric Wolfe because he wanted to pursue ministry. The transaction applied to the franchising company, while Schippers continued to own the original Eau Claire restaurant. The same year, Schippers received Wisconsin's Emerging Small Business Person award from the Small Business Administration. The brand later received notable advertising recognition. In 2009, a campaign created by the agency Colle+McVoy earned Erbert & Gerbert's a Gold Effie Award. For its twentieth anniversary, the company also produced a commercial that reportedly featured the world's largest air-vortex cannon. These efforts reinforced the chain's playful and unconventional identity. Erbert & Gerbert's is documented as an active regional restaurant franchise headquartered in Eau Claire. It is not documented in the supplied material as a publicly listed company or as part of a larger publicly identified restaurant group. Current executive leadership, precise ownership arrangements, current store numbers, and an official website address are not established by the available reference.
- 2009
Gold Effie Award
[1]An Erbert & Gerbert's advertising campaign created by Colle+McVoy received a Gold Effie Award.
- 2003
Franchising company changes ownership
[1]Kevin Schippers sold the franchising company to investors led by Eric Wolfe while retaining the original Eau Claire location.
- 2003
Founder receives small-business award
[1]Kevin Schippers was named Wisconsin's Emerging Small Business Person by the Small Business Administration.
- 1988
First restaurant opens
[1]The first Erbert & Gerbert's restaurant opened on Water Street in Eau Claire.
- 1987
Business founded in Eau Claire
[1]Kevin and Beth Schippers founded the Erbert & Gerbert's business in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Products and positioning
A regional, college-area-oriented submarine-sandwich franchise differentiated by story-based branding, unusual sandwich names, and a distinctive bread-preparation method.
Core menu · 1988
Submarine sandwiches
Submarine sandwiches are the chain's principal product category. The menu has included 16 named sandwiches, combining standard sandwich fillings with playful product names. Erbert & Gerbert's prepares its sandwiches by cutting into the bread and removing the soft white center, leaving the fillings presented on top of the remaining bread. This preparation is a central part of the brand's product identity.
Named submarine sandwich
Halley's Comet
Halley's Comet is one of the named submarine sandwiches associated with Erbert & Gerbert's. It belongs to the chain's themed naming system, which uses astronomy-inspired names alongside invented character-like names. The supplied reference identifies the product as part of the brand's main sandwich menu but does not provide a complete ingredient list.
Named submarine sandwich
Comet Morehouse
Comet Morehouse is another named submarine sandwich documented on the Erbert & Gerbert's menu. Its name reflects the chain's distinctive approach to menu nomenclature. Available reference material confirms its association with the sandwich range but does not specify its ingredients or launch date.
Named submarine sandwich
Girf
Girf is a submarine sandwich with an invented name used by Erbert & Gerbert's. It exemplifies the brand's playful naming style, in which fictional or made-up terms are used alongside names drawn from themes such as astronomy. The available source does not state its ingredients or introduction date.
Named submarine sandwich
Narmer
Narmer is a named sandwich in Erbert & Gerbert's submarine-sandwich lineup. It is one of the menu names specifically identified in reference material. No ingredient description, nutritional information, or launch date is established by the supplied sources.
Dietary offering
Gluten-free products
Erbert & Gerbert's has offered gluten-free products in addition to its standard sandwich menu. The available reference confirms the existence of gluten-free options but does not specify the exact products, preparation protocols, or current availability.
Marketing campaigns
- 2009Gold Effie advertising campaign
United States
A campaign for Erbert & Gerbert's developed by Colle+McVoy received a Gold Effie Award, recognizing advertising effectiveness.
Outcome. The campaign won a Gold Effie Award. The supplied reference does not provide campaign spending, reach, or sales impact.
- 2008Twentieth-anniversary air-vortex-cannon commercial
United States
To mark the brand's twentieth anniversary, Erbert & Gerbert's created a commercial reportedly using what was presented as the world's largest air-vortex cannon.
Outcome. The commercial served as an anniversary promotion; quantitative performance results are not available in the supplied material.
Brand decisions
2003
Sale of the franchising companyM&ABackground
Kevin Schippers wanted to pursue a career in ministry after developing the Eau Claire-founded sandwich business and its franchise system.
Action taken
Schippers sold the franchising company to investors led by Eric Wolfe, while continuing to own the original Eau Claire restaurant.
Aftermath
The transaction separated the original restaurant from the franchising business and placed the franchise system under new investor leadership. Further financial terms and later ownership changes are not stated.
Recent events
Reported
Erbert & Gerbert’s offers free delivery[2]
Erbert & Gerbert’s announced free delivery on qualifying orders from March 19 through April 6, 2020. The offer applied to orders of $10 or more in participating locations and delivery areas.
Reported
Erbert & Gerbert’s announces two limited-time sandwiches[3]
Erbert & Gerbert’s announced two limited-time sandwiches, a plant-based Roasted Red Pepper Banh Mi and a BBQ Brisket Asian Fusion sandwich, planned to be available February 3.
Sources4 sources
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