Firehouse Subs is expanding and adding a new location in Amherstburg at 83 Sandwich St S.
Firehouse Subs was founded in 1992 in Jacksonville, Florida by two firefighter brothers.
The brothers also created the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation which is dedicated to improving the capabilities of first responders by providing funding, resources, and support.
Javed Qadree is the owner and operator of the new Amherstburg location as well as the Windsor locations at 1726 Huron Church Rd and 3065 Howard Ave and the Sarnia location.
Qadree says he is excited because his newest store will be the first Western Ontario location to feature the new 'restaurant of the future' redesign after 25 years.
"From the fixturing to the equipment, everything is completely different. Even the ordering is different," he said. "Now I can assure you that one of the main reasons for the change was speed of service. Our old steamers were actually a little bit delayed. So it would take about 2:35 to steam two sub sandwiches, where as now we can do that in under a minute."
He says each location partners with a local fire department by raising funds in-store through customer donations, rounding up orders or medallion sales.
"Everything that we raise, at the end of the year we reach out to our paramedics, police officers and firefighters to submit a grant application for life safety equipment. Last week we gave LaSalle Fire Department about $34,000 in grants for life safety equipment. So very much looking forward to working with Amherstburg Fire Department as well."
Qadree says he is a former police officer and knows what it means to be a first responder, "One of the reasons why I got into Firehouse Subs is the Public Safety Foundation because through this I can continue to give back to the community and help my former colleagues, fire fighters, police officers and paramedics."
Qadree anticipates the new Amherstburg location to open in late June or the first week of July.
He says they're looking to hire and will have banners posted outside the building shortly with an e-mail address for resumes.