Firehouse Subs co-founder dies after building beloved American sandwich chain with brother
Chris Sorensen, who co-founded Firehouse Subs with his brother Robin, has died aged 65. The former firefighter helped build the Jacksonville sandwich shop into a major chain, while also shaping its restaurant interiors and preserving its history.
The brothers opened their first restaurant in 1994, reportedly with less than $100 in their bank accounts; the first order was two fully loaded hot dogs. Firehouse Subs was sold in 2021 for $1 billion and has since grown to more than 1,200 locations. The brothers also founded a public safety charity, which has awarded more than $118 million in grants to 7,700 departments in the US and Canada.
In short
- Firehouse Subs co-founder Chris Sorensen has died aged 65.
- He and his brother launched the chain in Jacksonville in 1994.
- Their public safety foundation has awarded over $118 million in grants.
Explained simply
Firehouse Subs is an American sandwich chain founded in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1994 by brothers Chris and Robin Sorensen. Both had worked as firefighters, and they drew on that experience when creating the restaurant, including its firehouse-style interiors.
The chain grew from a small first shop into a business with more than 1,200 locations before it was sold in 2021. The brothers also set up a charity that provides grants to fire and other public safety departments in the US and Canada, linking the business to their former profession.