Chris Sorensen, a co-founder of the sandwich chain Firehouse Subs, has died at 65.Before entering the restaurant industry, Sorensen was a professional guitarist, even sitting in with bands including Huey Lewis and the News, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Foreigner and Earth, Wind & Fire, according to his obituary.He went on to become a firefighter, following in the footsteps of his father, Robert.EVERY BITE COUNTS AS SANDWICH SHOP DITCHES TRADITIONAL SUB-BUILDING METHODAfter working at the Brevard County Fire Department and the Jacksonville International Airport Fire and Rescue Department, Chris spent 10 years as an engineer and EMT at the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, where his dad also worked at the time.Chris Sorensen, middle, worked as a firefighter and EMT for years before entering the restaurant industry with his brother, Robin, to co-found the sandwich chain Firehouse Subs.(Firehouse Subs)In 1994, Chris and his younger brother, Robin, co-founded Firehouse Subs, opening the first location in their hometown of Jacksonville.They had less than $100 in their checking accounts at the time, according to Nation’s Restaurant News.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTERSurprisingly, the first-ever order at the chain’s flagship location was not a sub, but two hot dogs with everything on them, which consisted of about 10 ingredients, Robin Sorensen told the Jacksonville Daily Record in 2020."We were so focused on the subs, we weren’t prepared for that order.
Needless to say, it was a long ticket time," he said.Firehouse Subs first opened in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1994.(iStock)Featuring steamed meats and cheeses piled high on warm toasted rolls, Firehouse sandwiches soon became a hit.Chris took creative ownership of the interior of Firehouse Subs restaurants, outfitting each location with a custom mural depicting fire and police service unique to the restaurant’s town.CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE NEWSA collector of historical artifacts, he ensured...