Updated at: 03/10/2010 11:05 AM | KSAX.com
By: Emily Deem

Local Quiznos Now Treehouse Subs: Family Businesses Leave Corporate Umbrella Behind

ALEXANDRIA, MINN. - It's a trend people are starting to notice. Local families who have operated national chain restaurants have decided to drop the franchise and go in it alone. That's what's happened at Treehouse Subs in Alexandria formerly known as Quiznos.

"It's our own," Lynn Pierce owner of Treehouse Subs said. "We're doing what we want to do and how we want to do it."

Brad and Lynn Pierce bought the Quiznos franchise on Broadway in Alexandria four years ago and said they pretty much had it with corporate politics. On Friday, March 5 they said goodbye to corporate and hello to their new business.

The Pierce's wanted to offer more things the customers wanted like Minnesota wild rice soup, Quiznos wouldn't allow the Pierce's to serve the Minnesota staple. But now, Treehouse Subs does sell the local favorite.

"It's what we get to do," Pierce said. "We get to make it our own and aren't held back anymore."

The 'treehouse' in Treehouse Subs has special meaning to the Pierce family.

"The name is in honor of my late brother who died of lung cancer," Pierce said.

Lynn is one of five children and her brother passed away of lung cancer in August of 2009. Growing up Lynn and her siblings loved to play in their treehouse at their home.

But the Pierce's were not the only local family who have dumped the franchise tag.

Kevin and Connie Lee Cunningham decided to leave the Whiskey Creek franchise and start the Tennessee Roadhouse on Highway 29 in Alexandria five months ago.

"For us it was too restrictive and going independent allows us to add our personality to the place," Kevin Cunningham said.

Being stuck with the franchise tag kept Connie Lee, who is also a recording artist, from performing in the restaurant and selling her CD's.

"That was just something they were not in favor of," Kevin said.

Cunnigham has owned six different restaurants, and he said even with the added freedom he would not advise everyone to leave the franchise tag behind.

"When you break away from something that's structured and do it independently you really have to know the business inside and out," he said.

Written for the web by: Emily Deem and Anthony Kiekow

edeem@ksax.com

akiekow@ksax.com