Eat All About It: Firehouse Subs makes first Tri-City call in Burbank

There’s a new player in the local subway sandwich market.

Firehouse Subs, an 1,100-unit chain based in Jacksonville, Fla., opened its first Tri-City restaurant Monday in Burbank.

The sub shop is attached to the SunMart convenience store and gas station, 838 Uhling Road, near Ice Harbor Drive and Highway 12.

It is the first of what franchise owners Shawn Sanderson and Christopher Eerkes hope will be many Firehouse locations in the Tri-Cities.

Formed by firefighters, Firehouse Subs specializes in sandwiches and salads with firehouse-themed names. It offers more than 50 hot sauces and keeps its firefighter connection through its corporate giving program. The nonprofit Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation provided more than, $8 million to support public safety, education, disaster relief and veterans in 2016, according to IRS filings.

Firehouse Subs is a relative newcomer to Washington state. The first location opened about four years ago. Burbank is the eighth Washington location and only the second in Eastern Washington. Before Monday, fans had to visit Firehouse in Spokane or on the Interstate 5 corridor.

The new franchise is a key step toward rebuilding an iconic Tri-City convenience store brand, Sun Pacific Energy Inc.

Owned for three generations by the Eerkes family, Sun Pacific began in the 1950s as a home heating oil business and moved into the convenience store industry in the 1980s, growing to 40 locations at its peak. It added quick service restaurants to its locations in about 2000.

Five years ago, it sold most of its business to Circle K as part of a transition to the next generation.

Sanderson, district manager for both Sun Pacific and Firehouse, said the company is looking to rebuild its network, with Firehouse Subs as its anchor. It has identified potential development sites and is open to converting existing businesses to its brand as well, he said.

A second and possibly third Firehouse Subs will open in the Tri-Cities in 2018.

The brand is being marketed to prospective Washington franchisees by Maryellen Mech, a Vancouver-based area representative and alum of the Papa Murphy’s Take n Bake Pizza chain.

Mech, on hand to help with the Burbank launch, called it a great and growing location to introduce the brand to the market.

Its customer base will draw from the nearby highway, area employers and Burbank itself. The sub shop is attached to a convenience store and car wash and is designed to be a one-stop rest spot for motorists.

Firehouse Subs charges a $20,000 franchise fee plus royalties. A typical store employs 15 to 20 full-and part-time employees.

The Burbank location is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

HoneyBaked hits Kennewick

HoneyBaked Ham has opened at 731 N. Columbia Center Drive in Kennewick, south of Texas Roadhouse.

The Georgia-based retailer sells hams, turkey breasts and other entrees, side dishes and desserts. The Kennewick location is the first in Eastern Washington outside of Spokane.

The HoneyBaked Cafe serves a full line of lunch salads and sandwiches and soups and offers catering services as well.

Western Restaurant Supply & Design built the new store, which combined two spaces into a single suite. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.

Walter Clore seeks culinary partner

The Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center is accepting proposals from businesses interested in becoming the exclusive catering partner for the Prosser wine center. The caterer will serve all private events, as well as center-sponsored activities. Contact stephanie@theclorecenter.org for the request for proposal.

Jan. 12 is the deadline to submit a proposal.

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This story was originally published December 19, 2017 at 1:40 PM with the headline "Eat All About It: Firehouse Subs makes first Tri-City call in Burbank."