A nationwide sandwich shop chain founded and headquartered in Jacksonville plans to open its latest Northeast Florida restaurant at a new Ponte Vedra Beach shopping center.
Firehouse Subs plans to open at 1035 Crosswater Parkway, Suite A, in The Corner Markets of Nocatee — part of the larger Nocatee Town Center retail and restaurant development.
Founded by firefighter brothers, the popular Jacksonville-based chain is targeting a late November opening, but the date hasn't been finalized.
The company-owned and operated restaurant will be the first in Nocatee. It will join four others already open in St. Johns County.
Tim Foster, director of company operations for Firehouse Subs, will lead the Nocatee restaurant. A St. Johns County resident, Foster is
a 15-year company veteran who's worked his way up from team member to his current position as a brand executive.
“We’ve had our eye on St. Johns County for a while now,” Foster said in a news release announcing the opening plans. “Our guests kept telling us they wanted a Firehouse Subs closer to home, and Nocatee felt like the right fit."
Foster also said they're looking forward to opening in Nocatee.
"We’re excited to bring our hot and hearty subs to a new neighborhood right here in our home market, and to continue our mission of supporting local first responders through the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation,” Foster noted.
The new restaurant will be just north of St. Johns County Fire Station No. 18, 1055 Crosswater Parkway, and across from the community's water parks.
Its decor "reflects the founding family's decades of fire and police service, with gear and photos donated by local fire departments."
The restaurant will also showcase a custom, hand-painted mural featuring the Nocatee water slide alongside a local firetruck. A custom, hand-painted mural was created for the restaurant by Joe Puskas, chief mural artist for Firehouse Subs.
Founded by firefighters, Firehouse Subs aids first responders and communities nationwide
Jacksonville firefighters and brothers Chris Sorensen and Robin Sorensen founded Firehouse Subs in 1994 at Crown Plaza on San Jose Boulevard in Mandarin. Since then, it's grown to more than 1,300 locations across North America.
In 2021, Restaurant Brands International (RBI) acquired Firehouse Subs for$1 billion in an all-cash deal.
RBI is one of the world's largest quick-service restaurant companies with nearly $47 billion in annual system-wide sales and over 33,000 restaurants in more than 120 countries and territories as of Dec 31, 2025, according to the news release.
In addition to Firehouse Subs, the company also owns Burger King, Popeyes and Tim Hortons.
The Nocatee restaurant joins other Firehouse Subs locations in St. Johns County: 465 SR 13, Suite 13 and 2245 W. CR 210, Suite 111, both in Saint Johns; 200 CBL Drive in St. Augustine; and 480 Durbin Pavilion Drive in Durbin Park, according to Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation online records.
Firehouse Subs has 33 restaurants in the greater Jacksonville area across Duval, St. Johns, Clay and Nassau counties.
Teresa Stepzinski is the dining reporter for the Times-Union. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @TeresaStepz or reach her via email at tstepzinski@jacksonville.com.
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville-based Firehouse Subs adding new St. Johns restaurant
