Firehouse Subs Founders Watch Their Franchise Grow

The Ledger:

Days spent traveling on a tour bus once used by Garth Brooks’ children and nanny might sound like a glamorous life, but the founders of one of the country’s fastest-growing sub shops say the schedule is grueling.

Brothers Chris and Robin Sorensen, founders of Firehouse Subs, go on the road several times a year to see firsthand the product of their labor.

They opened their first store in their hometown of Jacksonville 12 years ago. There now are 226 stores in 12 states.

The Sorensen family has more than 200 years in fire service, Robin Sorensen said. Their father retired two years ago after serving in the fire department for 43 years, and their grandfather was a firefighter before that.

Chris, eight years older than Robin, first carried on the family tradition, then Robin followed. Firemen traditionally love to cook, and Robin was no exception.

“I have a passion for cooking,” Robin Sorensen said.

Even though their career as firemen was natural, Robin said he and his brother had a desire to be in the food business.

“We made a short list of what we thought we needed to do to be better than everybody else,” Robin Sorensen said.

They chose the sandwich-shop style, and the firehouse theme naturally followed, he said. The restaurant features steamed sandwiches.

“We never thought about making money,” Robin Sorensen said. “We thought, `If we can pay bills every month, that is a good month.’ ”

The restaurant was so successful, they opened three stores the first year, he said.

“Fortunately, everybody loved it,” the younger Sorensen said.

The Sorensens own 35 stores, all of which are debt-free, they said. The franchises for the remaining stores have been purchased by individual owners.