Local Restaurateur Brings the Heat with First Firehouse Subs® in Iowa City, Iowa
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Local Restaurateur Brings the Heat with First Firehouse Subs® in Iowa City, Iowa

Custom Restaurant Mural Highlights Beautiful University of Iowa Tradition

August 31, 2021 // Franchising.com // IOWA CITY, IA - Firehouse Subs® is excited to announce the grand opening of its first location in Iowa City, IA. The restaurant, located at 161 Highway 1 West, will open its doors to the public on Tuesday, August 31, 2021 under the ownership of Firehouse Subs Franchisee John Chadima.

This is the third restaurant for Chadima and the fourth Firehouse Subs location across the greater Cedar Rapids area. Chadima opened his first Firehouse Subs restaurant in Cedar Rapids back in 2014 after close friend and influential Firehouse Subs franchisee Don Davey introduced him to the brand and encouraged him to consider opening a restaurant himself. The brand was the perfect fit for Chadima, whose father opened Hawkeye Fire and Safety Company in 1979. Chadima worked with his father and other active and retired firefighters who were employed there.

“I give a lot of credit to my friend Don for showing me what Firehouse Subs is really all about. I quickly fell in love with this brand and how we support first responders as I’ve worked with firefighters since I was a teenager,” said John Chadima. “It’s been such a pleasure owning and operating my restaurants and I really look forward to bringing our hearty and lifesaving subs to Iowa City.”

This restaurateur is dedicated to sharing the brand’s commitment to giving back through Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, which has granted more than $660,000 in Iowa. 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 Iowa City Firehouse Subs restaurant is open from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. It is conveniently located near University of Iowa’s campus and will offer steamed-to-perfection subs available for dine in or to go via online ordering through the Firehouse Subs app or website, call-in phone orders, third-party delivery or Rapid Rescue To Go® takeout service at the counter inside. Additionally, the restaurant features a patio with outdoor dining and in-house catering services are also offered to guests to accommodate occasions of all sizes, from office meetings to family gatherings.

Firehouse Subs serves a variety of hot specialty subs, piled high with premium meats and cheeses that are sliced fresh daily in-restaurant and steamed together to bring out the ingredients’ natural flavors, 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.

Founded by former firefighting brothers, the 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, featuring the Iowa Firefighters Memorial and the University of Iowa. The mural specifically highlights the University’s infamous football tradition known as the “wave.” Dating back to 2017, all players and spectators attending a game at Kinnick Stadium turn and wave to patients and families in the nearby University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital at the end of the first quarter. Since the opening of the first Firehouse Subs in 1994, Puskas and his team have painted more than 1,200 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 $60 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.

SOURCE Firehouse Subs

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