Why Is It Called Firehouse Subs?
Because it was started by two real firefighters, brothers Robin and Chris Sorensen, whose father spent 43 years with the Jacksonville fire department. The name is their family story, not a theme picked by a marketing team.
Firefighters are known for cooking for each other on long shifts, and the brothers have said a love of cooking is what pushed them toward opening a restaurant in the first place.
Two brothers from a firefighting family
Their father worked as a Jacksonville firefighter for 43 years and ran a TV store on the side to support the family. Chris first chased a career in music before joining the fire service, and Robin went into the fire academy at 18 in 1986. By the early 1990s both were working firefighters with an idea for a sandwich shop.
| Who | Firehouse connection |
|---|---|
| Rob Sorensen | Their father, 43 years with the Jacksonville fire department |
| Robin Sorensen | Co-founder, joined the fire academy in 1986 |
| Chris Sorensen | Co-founder and former firefighter |
Starting on a credit card
The brothers spent about two years researching before they opened. They pulled together roughly 35,000 dollars from anywhere they could, including a 2,000 dollar loan from the Jacksonville firefighters’ credit union, a loan from a relative, money from a friend, credit from suppliers and, for the biggest share, a family member’s credit card.
The first shop opened in a strip mall on San Jose Boulevard in the Mandarin area of Jacksonville with 60 dollars in the cash drawer. It took about 26,000 dollars in its first month.
How the firehouse theme shows up
The name set the tone for everything else. Restaurants are filled with fire department memorabilia and artwork, and many of the subs carry firefighting names.
| Menu name | Firehouse meaning |
|---|---|
| Hook and Ladder | The ladder truck at a fire station |
| Engineer | The firefighter who drives and runs the pump on the engine |
| Firehouse Hero | A nod to firefighters themselves |
| Captain Sorensen’s hot sauce | Named after the founders’ own family |
The theme also led to the chain’s charity, the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, which raises money for fire departments and first responders. Details on the foundation and the pickle buckets that help fund it are on the Firehouse Subs menu.
From one shop to a billion dollar sale
The brothers originally planned on a single restaurant. Customers kept asking for more, and franchising took off in the 2000s. By 2021 there were about 1,200 restaurants, and the Sorensens sold the chain to Restaurant Brands International for 1 billion dollars. The details are in who owns Firehouse Subs.
Related Questions
Why is it called Firehouse Subs?
Because its founders, brothers Robin and Chris Sorensen, were Jacksonville firefighters whose father served 43 years with the city’s fire department. They named the sub shop after the firehouse life they knew.
Were the Firehouse Subs founders real firefighters?
Yes. Robin and Chris Sorensen were both firefighters in Jacksonville, Florida, and were second generation firefighters following their father.
When and where did Firehouse Subs start?
On 10 October 1994, in a strip mall on San Jose Boulevard in the Mandarin area of Jacksonville, Florida.
What was the first thing sold at Firehouse Subs?
Two hot dogs with everything on them. The early menu included a hot dog called the Dalmatian Dog, and it sold before any sub did on opening day.
How much money did the Firehouse Subs founders start with?
About 35,000 dollars, pieced together from a firefighters’ credit union loan, family loans, a friend, supplier credit and a family credit card. They opened with 60 dollars in the cash drawer.
Why is the sub called Hook and Ladder?
It is named after the hook and ladder truck, the ladder truck used by fire departments. Many Firehouse Subs menu names come from firefighting, including the Engineer and the Firehouse Hero.
More on Firehouse Subs
About this guide. USA Food Menu is an independent reference site and is not affiliated with Firehouse Subs or Restaurant Brands International. History details come from interviews with the founders and published reporting. Current prices are on the Firehouse Subs menu.
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