Firehouse Subs Taps Former COO of Texas-Based Steakhouse to Develop 80 Restaurants Across Dallas

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., June 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Firehouse Subs®, founded by firemen and renowned for hearty, oversized portions and piping hot subs, announced today that Ryan Franklin, former COO of Lone Star Steakhouse and Texas Land & Cattle Steakhouse, has begun his development of Dallas, Texas as a Firehouse Subs Area Representative.

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He will own and operate one restaurant, which will be used as his training restaurant to assist in the future expansion of the territory. Franklin has signed on to develop a total of 80 restaurants over the next several years, making Texas the third largest concentration of Firehouse Subs outside of Florida. Currently, Firehouse Subs operates 18 restaurants across Dallas, which Franklin now oversees. To kick off his upcoming growth in the region, Franklin will be exhibiting at the Southwest Foodservice Expo on June 26th - 28th at the Dallas Convention Center.  

"We expect nothing but the best in Dallas and that is exactly why I decided to grow the Firehouse Subs brand across the market," said Franklin. "From our food to the business model, I'm confident that our way does beat their way and I encourage the community to come out to the Southwest Foodservice Expo to find out why."

In addition to growth in Dallas, Firehouse Subs is seeking Area Representatives for many markets across the country. Responsibilities of the Area Representative include developing a market based on the sale of franchises, and providing overall operational and marketing support to the franchisees, who oversee their own day-to-day operations. Furthermore, Area Representatives are tasked with increasing market share, maintaining revenue and developing management teams. This entrepreneurial model provides a caliber of support and a continuity of relationships that best serves Firehouse Subs' growth strategy.

"We are extremely excited to welcome Ryan Franklin, who has more than 20 years of restaurant experience, to the Firehouse Subs family," said Greg Delks, director of franchise development for Firehouse of America, LLC. "Our success in Dallas will stem directly from Ryan's passion for the community and his desire to provide the high-level of customer service and quality for which Firehouse Subs is known."

Building a solid network of restaurants within a market enables Firehouse Subs to invest in a distribution model that provides the premium ingredients that customers have come to expect. Area Representatives and franchisees also benefit from extensive training programs and comprehensive operating systems designed to help build business. A broad support team is geared to simplify operations and includes development and construction experts, operational support professionals, training managers, field marketing managers, public relations, and social media support.

Firehouse Subs, founded in Jacksonville, Fla., by former firefighting brothers Chris Sorensen and Robin Sorensen, is a 432-unit fast casual restaurant chain. Firehouse Subs offers oversized portions of premium hand-sliced meats, steamed to make the flavors burst, then piled high with fresh produce atop a toasted sub roll. The restaurants reflect the authentic firefighter heritage, as well as the founding family's 200 years of firefighting service.

In 2005, Firehouse Subs created the non-profit, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, with the mission to provide funding, life-saving equipment and educational opportunities to aid first-responders. Through the non-profit 501(c)(3), Firehouse Subs has given more than $2.2 million to hometown heroes, including fire and police departments and EMS organizations.

To learn more about this business opportunity and to connect with Firehouse Subs, please visit firehousesubs.com, facebook.com/firehousesubs or follow us on Twitter at @firehousesubs.

Media Contact:
Carmen Ordonez
Fish Consulting - 954-893-9150
[email protected]

SOURCE Firehouse Subs