Firehouse Subs calls it their winning combination — steaming the meats and cheeses to release flavor, then stuffing it all into a toasted sub roll.
“It is this method that sets us apart from the other sub shops, along with quantity and quality of meats and cheeses,” owner Eric Engelstad said.
Firehouse Subs opened its first Sioux Falls shop on 41st Street more than two years ago and a second location off of East 10th Street in October 2014. The franchise with 904 restaurants across the country is based in Jacksonville, Fla. Engelstad owns both Sioux Falls sub shops — the only ones in the state — as well as one shop in Sioux City.
With a menu of 10 hot specialty sandwiches, the top seller is the medium hook and ladder sub made with Virginia honey ham, smoked turkey breast and melted Monterey Jack cheese ($5.89).
Guests can choose the medium 8” or the large 12” subs, for $2.50 more. They also have the option to make their own subs with their own choices of meats and cheeses.
For a limited time the “Chief’s choice” is also available — the Kings Hawaiian sandwich made with pork and slaw for $6.99.
Firehouse also offers six subs made with light mayo and a light wheat roll that are less than 500 calories. The “hearty and flavorful” menu top seller is the turkey and cranberry. Made with hot smoked turkey breast, Monterey Jack cheese, cranberry spread, lettuce, tomato and onion, it sells for $5.79.
A special hot sauce bar of 50 different hot sauces, including Firehouse’s own hot sauce Captain Sorensen’s Datil Pepper, allows guests to spice up their sandwich. The hot sauces are rated from 1 to 10 for heat. The house hot sauce is sold in a hydrant bottle for $6.99.
Four specialty chopped salads — the firehouse salad, the Italian with grilled chicken salad, the hook and ladder salad and momma’s homemade chicken salad — are $7.49.
“We also offer catering with platters or special box lunches,” Engelstad said. “The only difference is that the sandwiches are cold.”
With black and white Dalmatian spotted tables, lots of red and white and seating for 45, the Firehouse restaurants are cozy and bright.
Engelstad said Firehouse Subs stays connected to the community with a public safety foundation program.
“Our Sioux Falls restaurants have given over $63,000 to the South Dakota First Responders and Public Safety Foundation,” he said. “People round up with their change and the money just adds up. We also sell 5-gallon red buckets for $2 adding to the fund. I am really proud of the ways Firehouse Subs has found a way to support our local fire departments and first responders.”
Question: Each sandwich is prepared “fully involved.” What does that mean?
Answer: Each sandwich is loaded complete with mayo, deli mustard, lettuce, tomato, onion, and a Kosher dill spear is served on the side.
Q: What is something unique many people may not know about Firehouse Subs?
A: Each restaurant has an 8-foot by 12-foot hand-painted mural with a Sioux Falls scene along with a fire truck. The East 10th Street sub shop has a mural of the Ninth Street firehouse. The 41st Street store has a mural of the Falls with a fire truck. Firehouse Subs has its own artist who makes a mural unique to each restaurant and community. They are both beautiful pieces of art.
Q: Do you have kids’ meals?
A: We have four kids’ combos that come with a 12-oz drink, a dessert and a fire hat ($3.99). Tuesdays, the kids eat free.
Firehouse Subs
Addresses: 5200 Arrowhead Parkway and 3504 W. 41st St.
Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., daily
Phone: 275-3473 on the east side, 275-2400 at the west side location
