Chris Sorensen, who co-founded the popular sandwich chain Firehouse Subs after years of working as a professional musician and municipal firefighter, has died at the age of 65.
Before entering the restaurant industry, Sorensen established a career in music as a professional guitarist. According to his obituary, his musical pursuits included sitting in with prominent musical acts such as Huey Lewis and the News, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Foreigner, and Earth, Wind & Fire.
Following his time in music, Sorensen transitioned into public safety, following the career path of his father, Robert Sorensen. He worked at the Brevard County Fire Department and the Jacksonville International Airport Fire and Rescue Department before spending a decade serving as an engineer and EMT at the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, where his father was also working at the time.
In 1994, Chris and his younger brother, Robin, leveraged their backgrounds and shared vision to co-founder Firehouse Subs, launching their inaugural restaurant in their hometown of Jacksonville. According to Nation’s Restaurant News, the brothers started the venture with less than $100 in their checking accounts.
Despite their focus on launching a specialty sandwich concept, the very first order at the flagship location was not a sub at all. Robin Sorensen recalled in a 2020 interview with the Jacksonville Daily Record that the first customer ordered two hot dogs with everything on them, a request involving approximately 10 ingredients. Because the founders were exclusively focused on their sandwich menu, they were unprepared for the request, resulting in a notably long ticket time.
The brand quickly found its footing with customers, gaining popularity for its signature menu featuring steamed meats and cheeses piled high on warm toasted rolls. As the business expanded, Chris Sorensen assumed creative control over the interior design of the restaurants, outfitting each new location with a custom mural honoring the fire and police services unique to that town. As an avid collector of historical artifacts, he also served as the company’s unofficial archivist to preserve its corporate and community legacy.
The brothers grew the enterprise significantly over the decades. In 2021, Firehouse Subs was sold to Restaurant Brands International, the parent company of Burger King, for $1 billion. Under subsequent expansion, the restaurant fleet grew to encompass more than 1,200 locations.
In addition to building the commercial restaurant chain, the brothers established the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation in 2005. Created with the mission of supporting first responders, the foundation provides life-saving equipment, essential tools, and educational resources to emergency departments. According to his obituary, the foundation has awarded more than $118 million in grants to 7,700 departments across the United States and Canada.
