Firehouse Subs co-founder Chris Sorensen dies at 65, leaving lasting restaurant and charitable legacy

Chris Sorensen began his professional life as a guitarist, sharing stages with groups such as Huey Lewis and the News and Lynyrd Skynyrd, before following his father Robert into firefighting. He worked for the Brevard County Fire Department, the Jacksonville International Airport Fire and Rescue Department, and spent a decade as an engineer and EMT with the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department. In 1994, together with his younger brother Robin, he launched the first Firehouse Subs in Jacksonville with under $100 in their bank account; the inaugural order was two heavily topped hot dogs, not a sandwich.

Sorensen oversaw the interior design of each restaurant, installing custom murals that reflected local fire and police heritage, and served as the chain’s unofficial archivist. After the company’s 2021 sale to Restaurant Brands International, the franchise grew to more than 1,200 locations. He also helped create the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, which has distributed over $118 million in grants to 7,700 fire and police departments across the United States and Canada. Sorensen passed away at 65, leaving a legacy of culinary success and support for first responders.