Military Veteran and His Two Children Team Up to Open First Firehouse Subs in Alexandria as Family Business

By: Firehouse Subs | 25 Shares 455 Reads

April 24, 2019 // Franchising.com // ALEXANDRIA, La. - Firehouse Subs announces the grand opening of its first location in Alexandria at 700 MacArthur Drive, Ste. A. The restaurant opened its doors to the public on Monday, April 22, under the ownership of first-time Firehouse Subs Franchisees Heather Pitts, Calvin Hoge and Brian Hoge. This is the 16th Firehouse Subs restaurant in Louisiana. Firehouse Subs serves premium meats and cheeses steamed and piled high on a toasted sub roll, served “Fully Involved®” with fresh produce and condiments. In addition to its signature subs, the restaurant offers a variety of catering options from sandwich and dessert platters to salads and snacks to fuel any occasion.

This is the first Firehouse Subs restaurant for Calvin Hoge and his two children, Heather and Brian. The family moved to Alexandria in 1984 when Calvin was stationed at the England Air Force Base. He served as a fighter pilot in the Air Force for 20 years. Brian introduced the family to Firehouse Subs a few years ago as they were discussing the possibility of opening a franchise together as a family. After tasting the food and learning about the brand’s commitment to heartfelt service and public safety, the three were determined to open their first franchise with Firehouse Subs. Brian and Heather each have two children who will help around the restaurant as well.

“I’ve seen firsthand how Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation has helped in times of need here in Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Gustav,” Heather Pitts said. “To know that we are now a part of those fundraising efforts and making a difference in communities across the country warms my heart.”

“This entire process to take on a new business together as a family has been so exciting,” Brian Hoge said. “The sense of anticipation around town has been so encouraging. We’re looking forward to serving the community every day with smiles on our faces.”

“For two decades, I served my country through the Air Force, and I knew we’d found the perfect venture when I learned about Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation and how every Firehouse Subs restaurant gives back to first responders, military and public safety organizations,” Calvin Hoge said. “We’re thrilled to be a part of that.”

These franchisees are dedicated to serving the community through hearty and flavorful food and giving back through Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, which has granted more than $618,000 in Louisiana.

The Alexandria Firehouse Subs restaurant is open from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. It will offer third-party delivery and in-house catering services to accommodate occasions of all sizes, from office meetings to family gatherings. The restaurant will also offer a drive-up pick-up window where guests who have placed online, phone and delivery orders in advance can pick up their food without having to leave their cars.

Founded by former firefighting brothers, the Alexandria restaurant décor reflects the founding family’s decades of fire and police service with gear and photos donated by local fire departments. It boasts a custom, hand-painted mural by Chief Mural Artist Joe Puskas depicting the scenic views unique to the area, including the local heroes from the Alexandria Fire Department in front of the Gillis Long Bridge that goes across the Red River to connect Alexandria and Pineville. The mural also features an A10 “Warthog” plane, which is what Calvin piloted while serving in the Air Force. Since the opening of the first Firehouse Subs in 1994, Puskas and his team have painted more than 1,160 murals from his studio at Firehouse Subs Headquarters in Jacksonville, Fla.

Firehouse Subs offers small, medium and large hot specialty subs, including the No. 1 selling Hook & Ladder® sub, piled high with smoked turkey breast and Virginia honey ham smothered with Monterey Jack cheese and served Fully Involved with mayo, deli mustard, lettuce, tomato, onion and a kosher dill pickle on the side. Other top sellers include the Smokehouse Beef & Cheddar Brisket™ loaded with USDA choice beef brisket smoked for up to 16 hours in an authentic Texas smokehouse and topped with melted cheddar cheese and a special combination of sauces, including Sweet Baby Ray’s® Barbecue Sauce. Additionally, each restaurant offers an assortment of 25+ complimentary hot sauces, including Captain Sorensen’s® Datil Pepper Hot Sauce, named in honor of the founding brothers’ father, Rob Sorensen, a 43-year retired fire captain.

The touch-screen operated Coca-Cola Freestyle® fountain is available in every restaurant, excluding Alaska and non-traditional locations, and offers 175+ sparkling and still beverage options with 90+ zero and low-calorie options, the most flavor options available to guests by any restaurant brand. Choices include the top-selling exclusive Firehouse Subs recipes, Cherry Lime-Aid™, Cherry Lime-Aid™ Light and Sparkling Cherry Lime-Aid™, served with fresh squeezed lime.

The Firehouse Rewards digital loyalty program offers guests an opportunity to earn and redeem points for each restaurant visit through a smartphone app. Once registered, guests can order in-app and access recent orders, redeem points for free items, and receive exclusive offers, such as a free medium sub on their birthday, and more. The free app is available on Google Play and in the App Store.

In 2005, the Firehouse Subs founders established the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation with the mission of providing funding, lifesaving equipment and educational opportunities to first responders and public safety organizations. The 501(c)(3) Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation has granted more than $42 million to hometown heroes in 49 states, Puerto Rico and Canada. Each restaurant recycles five-gallon pickle buckets, available to guests for a $2 donation to the Foundation. Donation canisters on register counters explain the nonprofit’s mission and collect spare change, while the Round Up Program allows guests to “round up” their bill to the nearest dollar. All funds raised benefit the Foundation.

Enjoy more subs. Save more lives. To learn more, visit http://www.firehousesubs.com.

About Firehouse Subs

Celebrating 25 years of business in 2019, Firehouse Subs® is a fast casual restaurant chain with a passion for Hearty and Flavorful Food, Heartfelt Service and Public Safety. Founded in 1994 by brothers and former firefighters Chris Sorensen and Robin Sorensen, Firehouse Subs is a brand built on decades of fire and police service, hot subs, steamed and piled high with the highest quality meats and cheeses and its commitment to saving lives through the establishment of the non-profit Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation®. The founders are the real deal, the food is their creation and the restaurant is built upon a family of franchise operators who share their same passion for generously serving food and community. This year, Firehouse of America, LLC (franchisor for the brand) will donate a portion of all purchases at U.S. Firehouse Subs restaurants to Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, resulting in a minimum donation of one million dollars. Firehouse Subs is consistently recognized as one of the leading brands in the U.S. among consumers. Newsweek recently named Firehouse Subs No. 1 in the fast casual restaurant industry on its 2019 list of America’s Best Customer Service Brands. In 2018, Firehouse Subs was named the No. 1 brand in the restaurant industry that “Supports Local Community Activities” and ranks No. 1 among Fast Casual brands in “Food Quality” and “Taste and Flavor” in Technomic’s Consumer Brand Metrics rankings. Firehouse Subs was also named No. 2 in “America’s Favorite Fast Casual Chain” rankings by Technomic Ignite.

Enjoy more subs. Save more lives. To learn more, visit http://www.firehousesubs.com.

Quick Facts:

More than 1,160 restaurants in 46 states, Puerto Rico, Canada and non-traditional locations
$42+ million granted to public safety organizations via Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation®
Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla.

SOURCE Firehouse Subs

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