Former Marine, New York Native Accomplishes Dream with First Firehouse Subs® in Kalispell, Montana

By: Firehouse Subs | 0 Shares 726 Reads

December 09, 2019 // Franchising.com // KALISPELL, Mont. - Firehouse Subs announces the grand opening of its first location in Kalispell, Montana at 110 Hutton Ranch Road, Suite 102. This marks the second Firehouse Subs restaurant in the state of Montana, following the opening of the Bozeman restaurant in 2014. The Kalispell restaurant will open its doors to the public on Saturday, December 7 under the ownership of Firehouse Subs Franchisee Les Kleinman.

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 Kleinman, whose lifelong dream has been to live in Montana and serve his new community. Kleinman grew up on Staten Island before spending 10 years in the Marines and 15 years with Citigroup, most recently as a Chief of Staff in IT. He fell in love with Montana during his years in the Marines when he was stationed in California and visited Montana on the weekends. When he visited Kalispell, it felt like home and made it official with his move to the Flathead Valley four years ago.

“Kalispell is made up of good people in a great community that looks out for each other, and that makes what I get to do even more special,” Kleinman said. “As a New Yorker, I’m naturally sociable, but not much of a salesman – I’m all about providing quality service and taking care of one another. I’m so excited to be bringing my dream to life by making great subs and serving my community in Kalispell.”

Kleinman is also passionate about being a family-oriented business. His wife, Toni Ann, and son, Mitchell, are excited to serve the community alongside Kleinman.

The Kleinmans are dedicated to sharing the brand’s commitment to giving back through Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, which has granted more than $189,000+ in Montana. A portion of every sale at any Firehouse Subs in the U.S. benefits the Foundation, allowing the Foundation to achieve its mission of providing lifesaving equipment, funding and education to first responders and public safety organizations across the country.

The Kalispell Firehouse Subs restaurant is open from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week. It will offer third-party delivery and in-house catering services to accommodate occasions of all sizes, from office meetings to family gatherings.

Founded by former firefighting brothers Chris Sorensen and Robin Sorensen, the restaurant décor reflects the founding family’s decades of fire and police service with gear and photos donated by local fire departments. The restaurant boasts a custom, hand-painted mural by Chief Mural Artist Joe Puskas, featuring Kleinman’s own backyard. The painting portrays Kleinman’s view out his backdoor including the Rocky Mountains, his horse and chickens, as well as pays homage to local smoke jumpers. Since the opening of the first Firehouse Subs in 1994, Puskas and his team have painted more than 1,180 murals from his studio at Firehouse Subs Headquarters in Jacksonville, Fla.

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 $46 million to hometown heroes in 49 states, Puerto Rico and Canada. Each restaurant recycles five-gallon pickle buckets, available to guests for a $3 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 https://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 https://www.firehousesubs.com.

Firehouse Subs Quick Facts:

* More than 1,180 restaurants in 46 states, Puerto Rico, Canada and non-traditional locations

* $46+ million granted to public safety organizations via Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation®

* Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla.

* 175+ sparkling and still beverage options offered through Coca-Cola Freestyle® fountain in every Firehouse Subs restaurant

º Including top-selling exclusive Firehouse Subs recipes, Cherry Lime-Aid™, Cherry Lime-Aid™ Light and Sparkling Cherry Lime-Aid™, served with fresh squeezed lime
Firehouse Rewards program offers points for free items, free birthday subs and more on Google Play and the App Store

* Top-Selling Signature Subs

º Hook & Ladder® Sub

Piled high with smoked turkey breast and Virginia honey ham smothered with Monterey Jack cheese
Served “Fully Involved” with mayo, deli mustard, lettuce, tomato, onion and a kosher dill pickle on the side

º 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

* Bring the heat with our hot sauce bar featuring 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.

SOURCE Firehouse Subs

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