Silver Mine hunts for franchise riches

FORT COLLINS — The nation may soon think of Georgetown, Cripple Creek and Pikes Peak not as locations in Colorado but as their favorite late-night meal.

Bred as a local favorite, Silver Mine Subs of Fort Collins has recently launched franchises in Arizona and Illinois. The fast-food restaurant currently has seven locations in Northern Colorado.

Silver Mine Subs started in 1996 when three University of Illinois students decided to head to the Rocky Mountains and open a restaurant.

“Two of us had graduated and couldn’t find a good enough job, so we decided to try something on our own,´ said Brett Vogel,…