Chris Sorensen, a former professional musician and firefighter who teamed up with his brother to co-found the popular sandwich chain Firehouse Subs, has died in Jacksonville, Florida, at the age of 65. Before building a nationwide restaurant enterprise, Sorensen followed a diverse path that included playing guitar professionally and serving as an emergency responder.
Born into a family with a strong tradition of public safety, Sorensen followed in the footsteps of his father, Robert. He worked at the Brevard County Fire Department and the Jacksonville International Airport Fire and Rescue Department before spending a decade as an engineer and EMT at the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, where his father was also serving at the time.
Prior to his emergency services and culinary careers, Sorensen spent years as a professional guitarist. According to his obituary, his musical talent afforded him opportunities to sit in with prominent musical acts, including Lynyrd Skynyrd, Foreigner, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Huey Lewis and the News.
In 1994, Sorensen shifted directions alongside his younger brother, Robin, when the pair co-founded Firehouse Subs. Opening their very first location in their hometown of Jacksonville, the brothers started the business with less than $100 in their checking accounts.
Despite their deep focus on developing a distinctive sandwich recipe, the restaurant’s inaugural customer order caught the founders off guard. Instead of a sub, the first-ever ticket was for two hot dogs dressed with about 10 ingredients. Robin Sorensen recounted in a 2020 interview with the Jacksonville Daily Record that because they were so focused on subs, they were unprepared for the order, resulting in a notably long ticket time.
The brand quickly found its footing with customers, drawing crowds with steamed meats and cheeses piled high on warm toasted rolls. Chris Sorensen took creative ownership of the restaurant interiors, designing a signature aesthetic that included custom murals depicting local fire and police service unique to each restaurant’s town. One notable mural at the chain’s historic San Marco Square location prominently depicts their father, former Jacksonville firefighter Captain Rob Sorensen, alongside Chris and Robin.
An avid collector of historical artifacts, Chris Sorensen also acted as the chain’s unofficial archivist, working to preserve the corporate and cultural legacy of the business.
Following years of steady expansion, the company reached a major corporate milestone in 2021 when it was sold for $1 billion to Restaurant Brands International, the parent corporation that also owns Burger King. By the time of the sale, the Firehouse Subs footprint had grown to encompass more than 1,200 locations across North America.
Alongside their commercial success, the brothers established the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation in 2005. Created with the mission of supporting emergency personnel, the foundation provides first responders with essential life-saving equipment, specialized tools, and educational resources. According to his obituary, the non-profit organization has awarded more than $118 million in grants to 7,700 different public safety departments across the United States and Canada.
