Chris Sorensen, Firehouse Subs co-founder and former firefighter, dies at 65

Chris Sorensen, who co-founded the Firehouse Subs sandwich chain with his brother after a career as a firefighter, has died. He was 65.

Sorensen died peacefully at his home on Oct. 11, surrounded by his family, according to his obituary from Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, as reported by News4JAX in Jacksonville. Word of his death reached a national audience over the weekend, when Fox News published a tribute that included a statement from the company. No cause of death has been reported in the sources reviewed here.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Chris Sorensen, co-founder of Firehouse Subs,” Mike Hancock, president of Firehouse Subs for North America, told Fox News Digital. “Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends and all who knew him.”

From guitarist to firefighter

Chris Randall Sorensen was born Oct. 16, 1960, in Jacksonville, Florida, and lived in St. Johns County for the past 30 years, News4JAX reported.

Before he ever served a sandwich, he was a professional musician. According to his obituary, the guitarist sat in with bands including Earth, Wind & Fire, Lonestar, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Huey Lewis and the News, and Foreigner.

He later followed his father, Robert, into the fire service. He worked for the Brevard County Fire Department and the Jacksonville International Airport Fire and Rescue Department, then spent more than 10 years as an engineer and EMT with the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, where his father also worked at the time, according to Fox News and News4JAX.

Building Firehouse Subs

In 1994, Chris and his younger brother, Robin, opened the first Firehouse Subs in their hometown of Jacksonville. Fox News, citing Nation’s Restaurant News, reported that the brothers had less than $100 in their checking accounts at the time.

The concept leaned on steamed meats and cheeses piled on toasted rolls, and the restaurants carried the brothers’ firefighting roots into the dining room. Fox News reported that Chris took creative ownership of the interiors, outfitting each location with a custom mural depicting local fire and police service. A collector of historical artifacts, he also served as the chain’s unofficial archivist.

Over 27 years, the brothers grew Firehouse Subs to more than 1,200 locations with over $1 billion in annual system sales, according to News4JAX. In 2021, they sold the company to Restaurant Brands International, which also owns Burger King. Fox News reported the sale was valued at $1 billion.

A foundation for first responders

In 2005, Chris and Robin Sorensen created the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation to provide first responders with lifesaving equipment, tools and education. According to his obituary, the foundation has awarded more than $118 million in grants to 7,700 departments across the United States and Canada. News4JAX reported that he considered it his most meaningful professional achievement.

“Alongside his brother Robin, Chris built Firehouse Subs into the brand it is today and helped establish the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, creating a lasting legacy of giving back to first responders and the communities they serve,” Hancock said in the statement to Fox News. “We are forever grateful for his contributions to our brand and the countless lives he touched.”

Why his story resonates

Sorensen’s path, from stage musician to firefighter and EMT to restaurant founder, is part of why the chain’s identity has felt personal to many customers. The murals, the firefighting gear on display and the foundation all trace back to the Sorensen family’s years in the fire service. For many firefighters, the foundation’s grants are the most visible part of that legacy, paying for equipment that local departments might otherwise struggle to afford.

Memorial and how to give

A celebration of life was held Friday, Oct. 23, at The Church of Eleven22 on Longleaf Pine Parkway in St. Johns County, News4JAX reported. In lieu of flowers, the family asked for donations to the Eric Sorensen Motor Speech Program at Brooks Rehabilitation or to the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation.

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