Twelve years after entering the business, the local franchisee for Firehouse Subs plans to open two more suburban locations this year.
Tom Davidson, who along with his brother-in-law, optometrist Dr. David Pifer, owns an 11-store franchise territory from Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., to Athens, Tenn., will open their ninth Firehouse Subs restaurant in mid-June in Collegedale and add the 10th local unit this fall in East Ridge.
"Chattanooga has been a tremendous market for us," Davidson said. "We have a great following and fan base, and we just love this area."
The newest restaurant in Collegedale is in the new Wolftever Crossing on Old Lee Highway near Little Debbie Parkway in Collegedale.
"There is a lot of growth in that area, and we've had a lot of people wanting us to expand into Ooltewah and Collegedale," Davidson said.
Later this year, Firehouse subs will open another local store at McBrien and Ringgold Roads in East Ridge.
The typical unit seats about 50 customers and employs about 25 full- and part-time employees, Davidson said.
The new units, similar to the eight already opened by the local franchisee in the region, will feature paintings and displays by local fire departments.
Firehouse Subs started in 1994 in Jacksonville, Fla., by former firefighting brothers Robin and Chris Sorensen.
The next year, the restaurant chain began franchising the concept and the company now operates 1,050 franchise restaurants across 44 states.
Firehouse Subs is famous for serving medium and large specialty subs with premium meats and cheeses steamed hot on a toasted sub roll and served "fully involved" with fresh produce and condiments. The concept takes inspiration from the Sorensen family's decades of fire and police experience.
"I just love this brand because it is the real deal," Davidson said. "Firefighters are held in such high regard and the quality of our sandwiches, I think, is second to none."
Firehouse Subs regularly donate equipment and make contributions to area fire departments through the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, which nationwide has made more than $25 million of life-saving equipment to first responders.
In Chattanooga, Firehouse Subs has donated more than $220,000 to 16 local police and fire department since 2005, Davidson said. The foundations has made more than 1,600 donations to local fire and police departments, but the first was made in 2007 when a jaws of life was donated to the Highway 58 volunteer fire department in honor of Shane Daughetee, a volunteer fire fighter at the Highway 58 Volunteer Fire Department who died in 2007 while trying to rescue a family in a burning house.
"I think our customers appreciate both good food and the good causes we support," Davidson said.
Contact Dave Flessner at dflessner@timesfreepress.com or at 757-6340