A ballyhooed sub shop has met its untimely end: Great American Hero, a onetime institution on Lemmon Avenue that had been around for nearly 50 years before undergoing a change in ownership in 2022, has shuttered its relocated location at 6216 Retail Rd. after six months.

A representative for the shop confirmed that the location had closed at the end of May. Correction: The restaurant closed in early June.

It's an abrupt ending to a year-long saga during which the shop changed hands, then relocated with a plan for a big expansion.

Great American Hero was a quirky landmark in its neon-vivid house at 4001 Lemmon Ave. where it served cheap-but-good cold cut sandwiches, Philly cheesesteaks, and Italian meatball subs.

The shop was presided over by colorful owner Dominic Oliverie, who built a following as much for his quirky personality and convenient location as his food - although that is not to give the food short shrift, as Oliverie was famous for going to the farmers market to pick up fresh ingredients.

In 2021, Oliverie decided it was time to cash out and put it on the market, where it remained in flux for a year thanks to issues with the location. He eventually sold the property to developer Leland Burk, and it's now home to Shug's Bagels.

Separately, he sold "the concept" to Danny Wilson and Jacob Cox, two club owners and entrepreneurs who bought the name and menu with an eye towards franchising.

"The trademark and the name are phenomenal," Wilson said at the time. "It's a Jersey-style sandwich shop but with better ingredients than the competition. We're going to keep the same product, but are going to take the brand marketing of concept in a little different direction."

They opened the new location in November 14, in a former Del Taco's at Timber Creek Crossing Center - a location that was not easy to find.

The shop was also not easy to recognize, with a black-painted brick exterior and red-white-and-blue signage. Maybe shoulda gone with the neon yellow.

In recent months, online reviews noted a decline in quality and offerings, with fewer ingredients available to add to the sandwiches, and disappointment over the quality and selection of bread.

But the representative said they were still hoping to open new locations in the future.