Firehouse Subs’ newest location brings the heat to Huntington Beach

While there’s no shortage of sandwich options in vast Orange County, how often do people get to bite into a delicious sub and give back to California’s heroic first responders at the same time? At Huntington Beach’s newest sandwich spot, Firehouse Subs, operated by OC native Troy Ruoff, you have an opportunity to get “fully involved.”

Firehouse Subs, a Florida-based restaurant chain recently expanded to Southern California, offers delicious specialty hot steamed subs complete with melty cheese, fresh bread and, true to form, copious hot sauces to spice things up. All locations feature calls to local fire departments and first responders by way of donated equipment, a custom-painted mural at each location, and even in the sandwich names — “Hook and Ladder” is the restaurant’s signature sub, a nod to fire equipment — Firehouse is perfect for a great lunch and a reminder of those who aid the state every day.

Californians, who witness devastating and dangerous wildfires yearly, need no reminder of how important firefighting efforts are. However, giving back can seem overwhelming during times of crisis. The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation has donated over $1.2 million of life-saving equipment to first responders in California alone. In fact, a portion of every sale at Firehouse Subs goes directly to the Foundation’s efforts, an imperative for founders Chris Sorensen and Robin Sorensen. The brothers, former firefighters themselves, built supporting first responders directly into the company’s DNA, aiding in equipment purchases to keep firefighters safe nationwide.

This act of service played largely into Ruoff’s decision to open a Firehouse Subs franchise. “In order to be successful in any business, you have to give back to your community,” Ruoff said. “I’ve known family members of first responders who have been lost, and that made an impact on me and how important it is to support these departments in any way we can.”

Ruoff is no stranger to running restaurants, and his family has a long history in the OC and Southern California. One of his great-grandfathers founded Edwards Cinemas, and the other operated a lima bean farm just a few blocks from the new Firehouse in Huntington Beach. His mom still runs a Quartz Hill pizzeria.

What can OC residents expect from their first Firehouse visit?

Special features at the Huntington Beach location include a custom painted mural by the company’s chief artist, Joe Puskas. The mural, which depicts firefighters whimsically surfing next to the world-famous Huntington Beach Pier, is one of over 1,100 murals Puskas and his team have created for Firehouse. The restaurant is also decorated with donated safety gear and other memorabilia from Orange County fire departments.

The Huntington Beach location will offer dine-in and takeout daily from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., including delivery through popular apps. Catering is also available, so you can spice up any lunch meeting with a meal of steamed subs.

Subs are piled high with quality meats and cheeses, and steamed hot (though every sub is available cold as well). And this commitment to quality hasn’t gone unnoticed — Firehouse Subs was named the No. 1 fast casual restaurant by Newsweek’s Best Consumer Brands list in 2019. Their top selling “Hook & Ladder” sub features turkey breast and Virginia honey ham piled high with melted Monterey Jack, and then is offered “Fully Involved,” with mayo, deli mustard, lettuce, tomato, onion and a kosher dill pickle on the side.

Then, customers can spice it up. Whether your tastes range from mild to wild to absolutely insane, Firehouse Subs has a hot sauce for you. Rated from 1-10 in heat, Firehouse offers 25+ complimentary hot sauces to meet any taste. Pro tip: Try Firehouse’s Captain Sorenson’s Datil Pepper Hot Sauce — like the founders, the Datil pepper is a Florida native and the sauce is a perfect compliment to any sandwich.

Firehouse Subs is located on 7251 Warner Ave., Huntington Beach 92647. firehousesubs.com