Firehouse Subs Showcases First Canadian Location

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OSHAWA, Ont. — Firehouse Subs opened its doors last night for an inside look — and taste — of the company’s first Canadian outpost.

The 2,150-sq.-ft., 59-seat Oshawa, Ont. location, which opened to the public last October is the first of 90 Firehouse Subs fast-casual restaurants slated to open in Ontario over the next 10 years.

OnFire Restaurant Group, a partnership between long-time restaurateurs Alex Gerzon, George Heos and Richard Jodoin, is leading the Canadian expansion of the brand, which first opened in Jacksonville, Fla. in 1994.

Co-founder Robin Sorensen and Firehouse Subs CEO Don Fox were on hand to share the brand’s story and why they chose Canada as a new market. “When we stated doing our due diligence, Canada rose to the top when looking to international expansion,” said Fox.

The most popular item on the menu, he said, is the Smokehouse Beef & Cheddar Brisket ($8 for a large). The subs are steamed in specially designed units to enhance the flavour profile and ensure the sandwich warms all the way through. “You’ll notice more staff than usual at our locations, but that’s because our process takes a little more TLC and attention to detail to get it right,” said Fox. The focal point of the restaurant, which boasts a firefighter theme, is a custom mural that’s tied to the local community. “Every unit has its own original piece done by artist Joe Puskas,” Fox added.

According to Fox, Firehouse Subs will continue its steady expansion with 120 new restaurants set to open across the system in 2016.

 

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