A retired firefighter who co-founded Firehouse Subs in Jacksonville and, with his brother, led the popular local sandwich shop to nationwide prominence as a fast-casual restaurant chain, has died.
Chris Randall Sorensen, 65, passed away peacefully Sunday, Oct. 11, at his home with his family at his side, according to an Oct. 16 obituary from Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home.
Friends and colleagues remember Sorensen as a devoted family man, passionate musician and astute restaurateur known for his compassion and philanthropy.
Like his father and younger brother, Sorensen was a longtime Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department firefighter who earned the respect of colleagues and first responders statewide.
"Chris was just a really great guy. … It is very
sad for him to leave us so early," Randy Wyse, a friend and fellow veteran firefighter who led the Jacksonville Association of Fire Fighters, IAFF Local 122, for many years, told the Times-Union on Oct. 17.
Sorensen served as an engineer and emergency medical technician for 10 years with JFRD Ladde Company 1. He and Wyse became friends while working together at Fire Station 1 downtown at 611 Liberty St. Their fathers also were Jacksonville fire veterans who worked together, creating another connection between Sorensen and Wyse.
"Chris was kind of low-key, loved his music. I remember him playing his guitar around the station," recalled Wyse, noting the fire station became a test site when Sorensen and his younger brother Robin — also a JFRD firefighter — were developing Firehouse Subs recipes.
"I remember him bringing some meat into the station and asking everybody, 'taste it and see what you think'," Wyse said.
Mike Hancock, president of Firehouse Subs U.S. and Canada, told the Times-Union via email Oct. 15 that Sorensen and his brother, Robin, built an iconic brand known for more than sub sandwiches.
"Alongside his brother Robin, Chris built Firehouse Subs into the brand it is today and helped establish the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, creating a lasting legacy of giving back to first responders and the communities they serve. We are forever grateful for his contributions to our brand and the countless lives he touched,” said Hancock, who also offered "our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, and all who knew him."
From musician to firefighter, restaurateur and philanthropist
Born on Oct. 16, 1960, Chris Sorensen was a gifted guitarist with a passion for music that began when he was 9 years old.
He grew up to play professionally in a band that got to jam with Earth, Wind and Fire; Foreigner; Lonestar; Huey Lewis and the News; K.C. and the Sunshine Band; and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
At 21, when his band broke up, Sorensen, with encouragement from his father, now retired JFRD Capt. Robert "Rob" Sorensen, became a firefighter. He served as a Brevard County firefighter for four years, and with the Jacksonville International Airport Fire and Rescue Department for a year.
He then joined the Jacksonville department, serving mainly with Ladder Company No. 1 during his career before retiring to focus on Firehouse Subs.
A small neighborhood sandwich shop goes nationwide
Chris Sorensen was 34 and Robin was 26 when the brothers, who shared a love of cooking and eating great food, founded Firehouse Subs on Oct. 10, 1994, at Crown Point Plaza in Mandarin.
He focused on the interior design, decor and ambiance of the restaurants, which are known for having a custom, hand-painted mural created by Joe Puskas, chief mural artist for Firehouse Subs.
As much as he enjoyed being a firefighter, Sorensen later said the restaurant appealed to his creative side.
"I'd always loved food and the art of it, and now I'm here today. I have a lot of hobbies and little passions that I have that I enjoy, and it's a thrill to even be here doing what I'm doing," he told USA TODAY during a 2017 USA TODAY interview.
Firehouse Subs: Brothers' mission of aiding first responders and communities nationwide
In addition to its signature subs including the Hook & Ladder, Engineer and New York Steamer, Firehouse Subs is also known for providing life-saving equipment to first responders and communities nationwide.
When Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, the Sorensen brothers loaded a tour bus and tractor-trailer with food and headed to the Gulf Coast.
They found "total devastation," Chris Sorensen later told the Times-Union.
"The people were in total shock, so we set up camp and started feeding everybody," Sorensen said at the time. "It was an incredible feeling. The feeling of helping — we brought beans, rice, sandwiches — just the look on everyone's faces as we brought the food out really touched us deeply."
That experience inspired the brothers to establish the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. The nonprofit provides life-saving equipment, disaster relief and other resources to public safety organizations in communities served by the restaurants.
Since its establishment in 2005, the Foundation has awarded more than $118 million in grants to 7,700 departments in the United States and Canada, according to Sorensen's obituary.
"Being involved with and participating in and watching our foundation grow into something we have never imagined is so fulfilling … That's an understatement. It's just so above what we had ever imagined. It's incredible," he responded in the 2017 USA TODAY interview when asked about the favorite part of his job.
Decision to sell Firehouse Subs a 'tough' one
In 2021, Restaurant Brands International (RBI) — which also owns Burger King, Popeyes and Tim Hortons — 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.
The Sorensen brothers remained active with the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation after the sale.
Family man
Sorensen is survived by his wife of 43 years, Kirsten "Puschel" Sorensen; his son Eric Sorensen; daughters Steffi Sorensen (Toree), an ESPN commentator; and Brittany Cooney, who, along with her husband, Mike, own popular local restaurants Ember & Iron and Gemma Fish + Oyster.
He is also survived by his parents Robert and Wanda Sorensen; siblings Lisa, Robin (Tabitha), Cecily and Chadwick (Mikah); and six grandchildren, according to his obituary.
Celebration of life planned
A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 23, at The Church of Eleven22, at 2101 Longleaf Pine Parkway, in St. Johns, his obituary showed.
A reception for family and friends will follow at Marywood Retreat & Conference Center, 235 Marywood Drive, also in St. Johns, according to his obituary.
Instead of flowers, the family said memorial donations in his honor can be made to the Eric Sorensen Motor Speech Program at Brooks Rehabilitation or the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation.
Gary T. Mills of the Times-Union contributed to this report.
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.
If you're a subscriber, thank you. If not, become a subscriber to get the latest dining coverage.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Firehouse Subs co-founder, retired firefighter Chris Sorensen dies
