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Co-Founder Chris Sorensen of Firehouse Subs Dies at 65
By Drooid · · How we work
Chris Sorensen’s Passing and Career Highlights
Chris Sorensen, who co-founded the sandwich chain Firehouse Subs, died at age 65. Before entering the restaurant business, he worked as a professional guitarist, performing with groups such as Huey Lewis and the News, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Foreigner and Earth, Wind & Fire, according to his obituary. He later followed his father, Robert Sorensen, into firefighting, serving at the Brevard County Fire Department, the Jacksonville International Airport Fire and Rescue Department, and spending a decade as an engineer and EMT with the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department.
Founding and Expansion of the Chain
In 1994, Sorensen and his younger brother Robin launched the first Firehouse Subs in Jacksonville with less than $100 in their checking accounts, as reported by Nation’s Restaurant News. The flagship store’s inaugural order was two fully loaded hot dogs, a detail Robin Sorensen recalled in a 2020 interview with the Jacksonville Daily Record. The concept emphasized steamed meats and cheeses on toasted rolls, and Chris Sorensen designed custom murals for each location that reflected local fire and police services. After being sold in 2021 for $1 billion to Restaurant Brands International (owner of Burger King), the chain expanded to more than 1,200 sites.
Public Safety Foundation Contributions
In 2005, the Sorensen brothers created the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, which provides equipment, tools and education to first-responders. The obituary notes the foundation has awarded over $118 million in grants to 7,700 fire and police departments across the United States and Canada.
Official Response
Fox News Digital contacted Firehouse Subs for comment on Sorensen’s death; the outlet did not receive a response at the time of publication.