jimmy john's, erbert's & gerbert's, and milio's founders are all cousins!

i had heard stories - urban legends, almost - about the founders of erbert's and gerbert's being brothers (named erbert and gerbert, coincidentally) that eventually had disagreements about how sandwiches should be made so gerbert branched off, changed his name to jimmy john, and made his own sandwich franchise.

seems there is a hint of truth in this: jimmy john's came first, in 1983, founded in a garage by jimmy john liautaud. he helped his cousin, kevin schippers, set up erbert's & gerbert's in 1988 (jim was in illinois and kevin in wisconsin, so they were competing yet). little did i know, milio's founder was another cousin, mike liautaud, who also got help from jimmy john setting up a sandwich shop in 1989!

excerpt of an interview with the milio's guy:

"We all get along. We’re not going out to eat every Friday, but we’re fine... I try to keep that competition out of the family, and at family events." [franchisetimes]

all three are sandwich options on the university of minnesota campus! [mndaily]

in my opinion, jimmy john's is by far the best. now i just wish i could recreate his #5 at home...