Bummer: Cheba Hut Closes in Iowa City

Cheba Hut’s first stored opened in Tempe, Arizona in 1998. They have 15 stores, mostly in Arizona and Colorado.

Known for subs named after marijuana strains, Cheba Hut is the stoner's answer to Subway and Quisnos. Now based in 14 cities, the sandwich chain just lost one of its franchises.

"Midwest is a tough market for us," says Iowa City store owner Seth Larsen. "It's a bummer, really."

That leaves 15 stores around the country in six states: Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon and Wisconsin.

Founded by Scott Jennings in 1998, when he opened the first Cheba Hut in Tempe, Arizona, the chain quickly expanded to Colorado, where it has stores in Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins and Greeley.

The company's move East has been more difficult, with the Madison, Wisconsin store the only Cheba Hut east of the Mississippi River.

Their legendary menu includes such enticing options as White Widow, Thai Stick, Kali Mist, Silver Haze, Pakalolo and the Humboldt veggie sub.

Steve Bloom

Steve Bloom

Publisher of CelebStoner.com, former editor of High Times and Freedom Leaf and co-author of Pot Culture and Reefer Movie Madness.