Back in 2014, brothers Kevin and Tommy Morvant opened their first Firehouse Subs franchise business on Martin Luther King Boulevard in Houma, Louisiana. Both brothers are huge fans of the brand, so in 2015, they decided to open a second location, eyeing their hometown of Thibodaux as their next market.
Now, with everything in place, Firehouse Subs Thibodaux is set for a strip mall location on North Canal Boulevard. The brothers are aiming for an opening day in late March.
According to Kevin Morvant, the brothers are currently holding interviews, and they plan to start staff selection and training over the next two weeks. Kevin noted that the locals are almost as excited as the brothers about bringing the Firehouse brand into the community. Firehouse Subs Houma, the brothers' other location, is doing well, with a solid customer base already forming.
Nationally, the Firehouse Subs' Hook and Ladder sandwich, which has Monterey Jack, ham and turkey with full dressings, is the most popular selection. However, at the brothers' Houma location, the smokehouse beef and cheddar brisket is a huge hit. That sandwich features meat that is smoked for 16 hours and then smothered with barbecue sauce, cheddar cheese and mayonnaise. Despite the heavy offerings, Firehouse Subs does have a menu of under-500-calorie salads and sandwiches.
Tommy says it was Firehouse Subs' food that actually sold him on the franchise idea. Tommy would often stop at a Firehouse Subs location right outside of Mobile, Alabama, on his way back from a Florida trip with his wife, and his love for the food translated into the idea of bringing the chain to the Houma-Thibodaux area.
Another feature of the chain that Tommy appreciated is the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. After former firefighters Chris and Robin Sorensen started Firehouse Subs back in 1994, they launched the foundation to help local first responders obtain expensive but needed equipment. Franchisees help raise funds for the foundation by selling extra pickle buckets at $2 apiece, asking guests if they wish to round up their payment to the next dollar, and using canisters to collect change at the register. Over the last two years, Firehouse Subs Houma has helped raise $28,000 for the Coteau Volunteer and Bayou Cane fire departments.
Firehouse Subs Thibodaux's new interior will highlight the local community and its fire department. A Thibodaux Firemen's Fair scene mural will be on its wall, and equipment that the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department is no longer using will be put on display.
Firehouse Subs: Fast-Growing Franchise Opportunities
With more than 900 locations operating, Firehouse Subs franchise committed to a controlled growth plan. Currently, there are franchise opportunities available in many markets, including Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Maryland.
The initial franchise fee for one unit is $20,000, with the total investment range starting at $131,150 and going up to $928,405. Qualified franchisees will have at least $80,000 to invest and a credit score of at least 650.
