A deal to keep Austin’s Quiznos open fell through, so the sandwich shop is now set to close in early November.

In July, owners Norm and Marlene Blaser announced plans to close Quiznos, 1702 17th St. NW, Suite H, in August unless a buyer came forward. However, the two kept the restaurant open to work on a deal with an interested buyer, but now that deal won’t happen.

“It just fell through for a number of reasons to do with Quiznos’ qualifications,” Norm said.

The Blasers are still looking for prospective buyers and are talking to another interested party, but they still plan to retire and close the store. Even if a deal is reached, it could take weeks or months to finalize, and the new owners would have to reopen later.

“We plan on shutting down somewhere in early November,” he said.

The Blasers are ready to retire for personal reasons, as Marlene has diabetic retinopathy, a symptom of diabetes that can eventually lead to blindness. Still, the couple would prefer to see their business continue on under new management.

“It would have been nice to have somebody buy it and keep it open,” Norm said.

Albert Lea’s Quiznos closed recently, making the Austin location the only shop between the Twin Cities and Des Moines, Iowa, and between Sioux Falls and Tomah, Wisconsin, except for a store in the subway near Mayo Clinic in Rochester, which Norm said keeps different hours than most stores.

Quiznos opened in 1999 in Austin, and the Blasers have received several recognitions and awards since they took over in 2005. Quiznos was named 2011 Austin Area Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year.

In 2007, the restaurant was recognized as 10th best in the nation in customer service. Marlene said she and other employees are able to call many of their customers by name, and the Austin Quiznos was also a training restaurant for new Quiznos owners in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and parts of Wisconsin.

The Blasers, both cancer survivors, have been involved in several cancer fundraisers like Paint the Town Pink and the Mower County Relay For Life for several years. In late 2013, the Austin Quiznos placed first among all Quiznos in the U.S. by raising $1,160 during a six-week fundraising campaign for leukemia.

The Blasers are competing in that same leukemia fundraising campaign this year and were last ranked third, though Norm was hopeful they could catch the leaders.

Despite retiring, the couple plans to remain in town. They thanked the many great people in Austin and in the business community for many years of support.

Norm was an administrator at Pacelli Catholic High School for nine years and worked in school administration for 41 years.

Norm said there’s still time for people to get a taste of Quiznos before the restaurant closes.

“If they want a taste of Quiznos before we close, come on out,” Norm said.