Lutz Firehouse Subs Opens, Pays Homage To Pasco Firefighters

LUTZ, FL -- Firehouse Subs announces the grand opening of its 29th location in the Tampa area. The restaurant at 23657 State Road 54 in Lutz will open its doors to the public on Thursday, May 16, under the ownership of Firehouse Subs franchisees Brad Lueking, Susan Alexander and Pierce Alexander.

Firehouse Subs serves premium meats and cheeses steamed and piled high on a toasted sub roll, served with fresh produce and condiments. In addition to its signature subs, the restaurant offers a variety of catering options from sandwich and dessert platters to salads and snacks.

This is the second Firehouse Subs restaurant for these business partners, who became franchisees in December 2013 when they purchased an existing restaurant in Spring Hill. Along with his mother and stepfather, Susan and Pierce Alexander, Lueking is dedicated to sharing the brand’s commitment to hearty food, heartfelt service and giving back through Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, which has granted more than $6.8 million in Florida.

“The first time I tried Firehouse Subs’ food, I fell in love with the high quality of the ingredients as well as the heartiness of the portions. I immediately knew this was a product I could proudly stand behind,” Lueking said. “On top of that, the fact that we give back to first-responders and communities across the country through Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation makes me excited to be a part of this brand and continue to expand it in the Tampa area.”

The Lutz Firehouse Subs restaurant is open from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. It will offer third-party delivery and in-house catering services to accommodate occasions of all sizes, from office meetings to family gatherings.

Founded by former firefighting brothers, the Lutz restaurant's decor reflects the founding family’s decades of fire and police service with gear and photos donated by local fire departments. It boasts a custom, hand-painted mural by chief mural artist Joe Puskas with a nod to the movie “Edward Scissorhands,” which was filmed in Pasco County, featuring local heroes from Pasco County Fire Rescue.

Since the opening of the first Firehouse Subs in 1994, Puskas and his team have painted more than 1,170 murals from his studio at Firehouse Subs headquarters in Jacksonville.

Firehouse Subs offers small, medium and large hot specialty subs, including the No. 1-selling Hook & Ladder® sub, piled high with smoked turkey breast and Virginia honey ham smothered with Monterey Jack cheese and served "fully involved" with mayo, deli mustard, lettuce, tomato, onion and a kosher dill pickle on the side.

Other top sellers include the Smokehouse Beef & Cheddar Brisket™ loaded with USDA choice beef brisket smoked for up to 16 hours in an authentic Texas smokehouse and topped with melted cheddar cheese and a special combination of sauces, including Sweet Baby Ray’s® Barbecue Sauce.

Additionally, each restaurant offers an assortment of more than 25 complimentary hot sauces, including Captain Sorensen’s® Datil Pepper Hot Sauce, named in honor of the founding brothers’ father, Rob Sorensen, a 43-year retired fire captain.

The touch-screen operated Coca-Cola Freestyle® fountain offers more than 175 sparkling and still beverage options with 90-plus zero and low-calorie options. Choices include the top-selling exclusive Firehouse Subs recipes, Cherry Lime-Aid™, Cherry Lime-Aid™ Light and Sparkling Cherry Lime-Aid™, served with fresh squeezed lime.

The Firehouse Rewards digital loyalty program offers guests an opportunity to earn and redeem points for each restaurant visit through a smartphone app. Once registered, guests can order in-app and access recent orders, redeem points for free items and receive exclusive offers, such as a free medium sub on their birthday. The free app is available on Google Play and in the App Store.

In 2005, the Firehouse Subs founders established the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation with the mission of providing funding, lifesaving equipment and educational opportunities to first-responders and public safety organizations. The 501(c)(3) Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation has granted more than $42 million to hometown heroes in 49 states, Puerto Rico and Canada. Each restaurant recycles 5-gallon pickle buckets, available to guests for a $2 donation to the foundation. Donation canisters on register counters explain the nonprofit’s mission and collect spare change, while the Round-Up Program allows guests to “round up” their bill to the nearest dollar. All funds raised benefit the foundation.

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