Firehouse Subs is coming to Searcy and should be open by the end of the year, according to owner and operator Matt Crawford. The sandwich restaurant will be located in the Gin Creek Shopping Center on East Race Street.
“We chose Searcy to open a Firehouse Subs because we felt that it would be a great fit,” Crawford said.
Despite the established sandwich shops already in Searcy, such as Lenny’s, Which Wich, Quizno’s, Subway and McAllister’s, Crawford said Firehouse Subs will hold its own.
“Our quality and steaming process makes the flavor pop,” Crawford said. “I’m a Firehouse Subs fanatic and look forward to the opportunity to serve Searcy.”
Firehouse Subs is already coming prepared to be a step ahead of the rest with the new Coca-Cola Freestyle, a drink machine with more than 120 drink choices. This futuristic drink machine is all touch screen and has drink combinations such as orange Coke, cherry vanilla Diet Coke, peach Sprite Zero, and cherry Dasani lemon water.
With word out about the new addition to Gin Creek, Harding students said they are excited to have a Firehouse Subs in town.
“Firehouse Subs is my favorite sandwich shop back home,” junior Jenna Brightwell said. “I can’t wait for it to open in Searcy.”
The question still remains as to whether Firehouse Subs will offer promotional deals like Lenny’s and Quizno’s buy-one-sandwich-get-one-free and the Harding discount at other sandwich shops, but Crawford said something will be worked out.
“Firehouse Subs will for sure have a Harding student discount,” Crawford said.
Firehouse Subs was founded in 1994 in Jacksonville, Fla., by brothers and former firefighters Chris and Robin Sorensen, who come from a legacy of more than 200 years of firefighting, and they have more than 450 restaurants in 29 states, according to the Firehouse Subs website.
According to the website, Firehouse Subs steams its meat and cheeses and serve them on a top-secret recipe sub roll. One of the restaurant’s most famous sub sandwiches is the Hook & Ladder with turkey, ham and melted Monterey Jack cheese. Sandwiches such as the Hook & Ladder, New York Steamer, Firehouse Meatball, Engineer and Firehouse Hero are all named based on terms that might commonly be used by firemen.
Despite other rumors of new businesses such as T.J. Maxx, Cracker Barrel and Kohl’s opening in Searcy, Firehouse Subs is the only confirmed new business to open in Searcy, according to the Searcy Chamber of Commerce.
