Firehouse Subs serves sandwiches, catering options
An interview with Carmia A. Stanovich, area representative of Firehouse Subs.
Q: Tell us about Firehouse Subs.
A: Firehouse Subs is a fast casual restaurant chain with a passion for hearty and flavorful food, heartfelt service and public safety. Founded in 1994 by brothers and former firefighters Chris and Robin Sorensen, it's a brand built on decades of fire and police service, hot subs, steamed and piled higher with the highest quality meats and cheese and its commitment to saving lives through the establishment of the nonprofit Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. The founders are the real deal, the food is their creation and the restaurant is built upon a family of franchise operators who share their same passion for generously serving food and community.
Q: What's unique about the company?
A: Firehouse Subs is well known for its delicious food, but also its commitment to serving the local community and first responders through the nonprofit Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. Since its inception in 2005, the foundation has donated more than $28 million to the public safety organizations is 46 states, Puerto Rico and Canada. Here in Illinois, the foundation has given more than $936,000 to support the purchase of lifesaving equipment for first responders across the state.
Q: How does Firehouse Subs cater to corporate meetings, events?
A: We are a one-stop resource for all events. We provide food service solutions for meetings, events, home parties, teams meals or just a group of friends getting together for a meal. Because of our flexibility we can serve both hot and cold.
Q: What's trending?
A: The restaurant industry is a struggling in todays economy. It's a perfect storm, industry wide we have seen a reduction in transaction, low unemployment which puts pressure on staffing and the rising costs whether the limits of available real estate and operation costs.
Q: Tell us a little about yourself.
A: Personally, and most importantly about myself is the love and support I have form my family; including my husband and high school sweetheart, Samuel. We have two kids, Constantine and Adriana and our dog Twix. Professionally I have been in the hospitality industry my entire career. From my hospitality education starting at Triton College and continued through at Roosevelt University. My career started and grew through Marriott International where I worked in all phases of operations and food and beverage. It then took a pivot to leading the sales and marketing for the Naperville Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Q: Tell us one interesting fact about Firehouse Subs.
A: Each Firehouse Subs restaurant offers an assortment of 50+ complimentary hot sauces, including Captain Sorensen's Datil Pepper Hot Sauce, named in honor of the founding brother's father, Rob Sorensen, a 43-year retired fire captain.
Q: Two people we should follow on social media.
A: Paul Barron. Paul is an amazing advocate for the hospitality industry. Paul's background is in technology, but he is an amazing storyteller and evangelist for one of the largest industries in our country. And Jon Taffer. Jon is a solution provider. He has leveraged Bar Rescue to help give those in struggling situations hope.
3124 W. North Ave., Stone Park, IL
Phone: (708) 829-4075
Executive: Carmia A. Stanovich
Number of employees: 15
When business opened: Nov. 16, 2015
Web address: firehousesubs.com
Twitter: twitter.com/firehousesubs
Instagram: mia_firehousesubs