Spreading Like Wildfire, Local Entrepreneurs Open 29th Firehouse Subs in Tampa Area

By: Firehouse Subs | 1 Shares 172 Reads

May 16, 2019 // Franchising.com // LUTZ, Fla. - Firehouse Subs announces the grand opening of its 29th location in the Tampa area at 23657 SR 54. The restaurant will open its doors to the public on Thursday, May 16, under the ownership of Firehouse Subs Franchisees Brad Lueking, Susan Alexander and Pierce Alexander. 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 second Firehouse Subs restaurant for these business partners, who became franchisees in December of 2013 when they purchased an existing restaurant in Spring Hill. Along with his mother and stepfather, Susan and Pierce Alexander, Lueking is dedicated to sharing the brand’s commitment to hearty and flavorful food, heartfelt service and giving back through Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, which has granted more than $6.8 million in Florida.

“The first time I tried Firehouse Subs’ food, I fell in love with the high quality of the ingredients as well as the heartiness of the portions. I immediately knew this was a product I could proudly stand behind,” Lueking said. “On top of that, the fact that we give back to first responders and communities across the country through Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation makes me excited to be a part of this brand and continue to expand it in the Tampa area.”

The Lutz 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.

Founded by former firefighting brothers, the Lutz 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 with a nod to the movie “Edward Scissorhands,” which was filmed in the area, featuring local heroes from the Pasco County Fire Department. Since the opening of the first Firehouse Subs in 1994, Puskas and his team have painted more than 1,170 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 1,170 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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