Firehouse Subs: founded by firemen

August 7, 2021

The Hero of all Subs

Firehouse Subs, a restaurant chain based in the United States,  was founded in 1994 in Jacksonville, Florida.

Firehouse Subs 1,178 Restaurant Locations in the United States

Former firefighters, brothers Chris Sorensen and Robin Sorensen, opened the first Firehouse Subs restaurant on October 10, 1994 in Jacksonville, Florida. Their father, Captain Rob Sorensen, was a 43-year veteran of the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department in Jacksonville, Florida.

Inspired by the firehouse, the brothers created their restaurant around that theme. Using donated firefighter gear and memorabilia, they decorated their restaurant in true firehouse fashion.

Each of the 1,178 restaurants features a custom mural hand-drawn and painted at the company’s headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida. Every restaurant has a unique painting, with no two the same.

Over the period of 27 years, Firehouse Subs has opened restaurants across 46 states, Puerto Rico, Canada and other non-traditional locations.

What’s on the Firehouse menu?
Whether you’re craving a hot sub, cold sub, or a salad, you can find a delicious variety of them all at Firehouse Subs. With creative names like Hook & Ladder, Engineer, and Firehouse Hero, the subs fillings include meats, cheese and a wide range of vegetables and condiments, all served on a toasted sub roll. Chris and Robin Sorensen oversee the menu, working closely with Firehouse Subs’ Director of Product Development, Jay Miller.

Firehouse Subs is Number One
Firehouse Subs is a definite favourite among American fast-food aficionados. In fact, it ranks number one in America’s Favorite Fast-Casual Chain category; number one in the Favorite Sandwich Chain category; and number four in the Favorite Chain overall category.

In 2019, Firehouse Subs was named the number one brand in the restaurant industry that “Supports Local Community Activities” and ranked number one among Fast Casual brands in the categories of Food Quality, Taste and Flavor, and Service and Hospitality in Technomic’s Consumer Brand Metrics rankings. Newsweek ranked Firehouse Subs as number one in the fast-casual restaurant industry on its 2019 list of America’s Best Customer Service Brands.

Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation
In 2005, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation was founded by Chris and Robin Sorensen. After the hurricane, the two brothers traveled to Mississippi where they donated food to first responders and survivors. It was this experience that inspired the creation of the Foundation which provides funding, lifesaving equipment, and educational opportunities to first-responders and public safety organizations.

Since its beginning, the Foundation has granted more than $60 million to hometown heroes in 49 states and Puerto Rico. The reach and mission of the Foundation is national in scope with first responders and public safety organizations from Jacksonville to Seattle.

Gloria Sauvé
Communications and Marketing

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