Firehouse Subs now serving sandwiches, salads in downtown Ann Arbor
Firehouse Subs opened in the former White Market space on East William Street this week.
Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com
The sandwich shop opened at 609 E. William St. in the space vacated by White Market last year.
“We’re just excited to be open,” Jessica said. “We waited two years to find our spot.”
Firehouse Subs opened on Monday in downtown Ann Arbor. The inside of the sub shop is decorated with an Ann Arbor theme.
Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com
Based in Florida, there are 592 Firehouse Subs locations, including one in Brighton and one in Grand Rapids. The restaurant serves sandwiches on toasted bread with steamed meats and cheeses, along with salads and other snacks.
Jessica said the chain is rapidly growing in Michigan and a dozen locations are slated to open in the next year. The Hammonds are looking to open additional Firehouse Subs in the Ann Arbor area.
“(Firehouse is) all over the south and moving this way,” Jessica said. “They’re coming here and it will soon be more of a known name.”
The Firehouse Subs location in downtown Ann Arbor is decorated with memorabilia from the City of Ann Arbor fire department, and there is a University of Michigan themed mural painted on the wall.
The restaurant raises money for the Ann Arbor fire department with a change jar, contractor bucket sales and by asking if customers would like to round their order to the nearest dollar.
“My husband and I are big on getting involved in our community,” Jessica said.
Firehouse Sub’s current hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.
Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.
Comments
ToddAustin
Wed, Mar 13, 2013 : 3:09 a.m.
Wow, their nutritional information is an eye opener. A two-day supply of salt in one sandwich? 80 grams of fat for lunch? http://www.firehousesubs.com/App_Themes/FirehouseSubs/Files/FHS_Nutritionals.pdf It reminds me of that Heart Attack Grill place in Las Vegas, where a self-appointed spokesman died of a heart attack. He ate there every day. Buyer beware!
jns131
Wed, Mar 13, 2013 : 12:21 a.m.
You guys really goofed when you chose Ann Arbor. Why? Because Ypsilanti has a Firehouse Museum in downtown Ypsilanti. Right near Depot Town. This would have been the perfect location for you folks. Right now as I see it? Downtown eats and spits out chains. Come to Ypsilanti when Ann Arbor is done with you. We will welcome you with open arms.
My2bits
Wed, Mar 13, 2013 : 1:31 a.m.
And open mouths
Jaime
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 8:56 p.m.
I wish Ann Arbor.com would stop calling the State Street/Liberty area "downtown". Downtown is Main Street area.
Judy
Wed, Mar 13, 2013 : 2:40 p.m.
Absolutely! Downtown is downtown and Campus Town is campus town (both the State/William/Liberty/North U area and South U.
Richard Retyi
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 7:48 p.m.
I lived in Jacksonville, Florida, for a year and worked in athletics there. Firehouse Subs were one of our sponsors and they provided subs at least once a week for basketball, football or baseball games. I'm guessing much like any other sub chain that the sandwiches are the same state to state. If that's the case, you've probably for 10 better options in Ann Arbor alone for a submarine or sandwich. Just within walking distance of the Firehouse location you have Sottini's and Amer's (really good sandwiches) and yes, chains like Potbelly (superior) and Jimmy John's (ditto).
Rich
Wed, Mar 13, 2013 : 1:46 a.m.
I'll give you the first two, both great spots. But potbelly and JJ's better than Firehouse? Ha ha that's laughable
Matt Lang
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 7:37 p.m.
Lizzy, do you know if they will have a grand opening? they had one at the Brighton store and it was great. Anyone who joins their e-club gets a free medium sub on their birthday
Lizzy Alfs
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 7:41 p.m.
Not sure, Matt. I can check.
Macabre Sunset
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 7:26 p.m.
It's not bad - I've tried the one in Brighton a couple of times. What turned me off, for good, was being asked by the cashier if they could add my change to the donations jar. Now I'm not saying donating to firefighters is a bad thing - I'm sure it would do some good. And I'm not saying it's a big deal to donate a couple of dollars. And it's great that they have a donations jar. But it should be entirely my decision whether to donate, and I felt like I was kicking someone's dog to say, "no, I do research on my own before donating to anything."
Arieswoman
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 5:47 p.m.
I hear they are good subs. Wish they weren't downtown though! Maybe they will open one up somewhere else in A2.
pb
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 5:53 p.m.
Glad they're downtown, although I don't find their food notably superior to other sub chains.
Arboriginal
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 5:26 p.m.
Chain-o-rific!
Audion Man
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 6:05 p.m.
Damn straight. We need locavore, artisinal subs that are $20 a piece.
dancinginmysoul
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 5:18 p.m.
I've eaten at a Firehouse out of state. It was okay, better then Subway. But honestly, I feel like the sub chains are all about the same.
TinyArtist
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 8:55 p.m.
Not so. Some are worse than others.
tbsgc
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 5:02 p.m.
Sparty getting table topped by a Wolverine...love it!
Townspeak
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 5:01 p.m.
Can we see what one of their subs looks like?
Lizzy Alfs
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 5:21 p.m.
@Townspeak: We didn't get a picture of the food, but there are some pictures on the company's website: http://www.firehousesubs.com/
Tyrone Shoelaces
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 4:48 p.m.
We hit one of these places out east and enjoyed it. I had a very good hot sub. Glad to see them here.
Ignatz
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 4:48 p.m.
From the Madison Avenue photography on their menu, they don't look like anything special. I suppose the draw is in the taste. I'll have to walk my tongue over there, soon.
Local Yocal
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 4:38 p.m.
Oops indeed.
Lovaduck
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 4:18 p.m.
Oops, by "they deserve to succeed" I refer to the Sub restaurant, not the "militant homeless". As one who occasionally corrects YOUR grammar and sentence placement, I need to heed my own advice. Also I have great sympathy for homeless people---it's just their constant accosting people on our city's streets makes people nervous, and can unfortunately help businesses fail.
Atticus F.
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 9:03 p.m.
News flash: The homeless have been in this town longer than the 32+ years that I've lived here. NYPD, Jimmy Johns, Wazoo, Stairway to Heaven, Ect. have all been in business for over 10 years at that location. If their business can't survive without demanding that a segment of the population go somewhere and die, then maybe their business would be a better fit in Saline, or Canton...
s2budd
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 8:39 p.m.
What are you talking about? What does that have anything to do with this article?
Lovaduck
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 4:16 p.m.
Good luck to them! Hope the militant homeless don't drive customers away! They deserve to succeed!
Hmm
Wed, Mar 13, 2013 : 3:18 p.m.
What is a militant homeless?
Kyle Mattson
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 4:13 p.m.
The police officers who own Cops & Donuts up in Clare needs to take a page out of the book from the firefighters who founded this chain and start franchising!
pegret
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 6:40 p.m.
I love that name!