State Revokes Certificates, Seven Subway Locations Close Including Topsham

At least seven Subway locations in Maine owned by MTF Subs were forced to shut their doors on December 11 after the Maine Revenue Service revoked their business registration certificates, state officials confirmed. Employees described an immediate and unsettling order to close, a sign on doors citing noncompliance with Part 3, 36 M.R.S.A, and no detailed explanation from revenue agents on site.

Around 10 o’clock, a gentleman came through my door, and he wasn’t looking like he was looking for a sandwich, said Joshua Rogers, assistant manager of the Wiscasset Subway. He’s like, Well, I’m about to give you a pretty bad day. You gotta turn the lights off, and you gotta close the doors. I’m with the State Revenue, and we are shutting you down.

The closures affected locations in Topsham, Portland, Brunswick, Lisbon Falls, Hampden, Westbrook and Wiscasset. The interruptions came after staff in several shops reported signs of financial trouble for weeks, including bounced checks and delayed direct deposits, and several employees said they had not been paid for recent work.

State officials confirmed that multiple business registration certificates were revoked, but declined to discuss individual tax or registration matters citing confidentiality requirements. The Maine Department of Labor is attempting to reach affected workers to provide information on unemployment insurance and wage claim options.

MTF Subs operates a wider franchise network. Its website lists 45 Subway locations across Maine, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Virginia, and the company maintains additional Subway restaurants in Maine towns including Blue Hill, Boothbay, Bucksport, Calais, Machias, Old Town, Richmond and Standish. The New England director of operations for MTF said he believes the situation is "temporary" and that the company is working to resolve the matter.

For Sagadahoc County the immediate effects are local and tangible. A Topsham closure removes weekday lunch capacity for commuters, reduces hours and income for frontline workers and may interrupt payroll and supplier payments during the holiday season. State enforcement actions of this kind illustrate the fiscal risks small franchise operators can pose to local labor markets when compliance issues surface, and they underscore the role of state agencies in balancing enforcement with worker protections. Local employees and customers are waiting for clarity as state and company officials proceed to address the disruption.