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Jacksonville-Based Sandwich Chains Meet Diners In New Places

Firehouse Subs interior
DCawton

The Jaxson co-founder Ennis Davis said that two Jacksonville-based sandwich chains are adapting to diners’ changing tastes in two different ways.

Davis told WJCT News Director Jessica Palombo that two Jacksonville-based sandwich chains are adapting to diners’ changing tastes in two different ways.

Firehouse Subs, which has more than a thousand restaurants in 44 states, Canada and Mexico, is now planning expanding into a nontraditional market: airports.

The first of the new concept will open at Jacksonville International Airport on Wed., July 19. It will have a modified menu, including breakfast offerings not available in traditional Firehouse shops.

Firehouse CEO Don Fox said airports offer a captive audience and guaranteed foot traffic, which is also why the company is exploring possible expansions into college campuses, military bases and stadiums as well.

And while Firehouse is looking to capture travelers, Jacksonville-based Larry’s Giant Subs is going after the hip, urban crowd.

Larry’s is planning a pizza joint in the up-and-coming Murray Hill neighborhood at 1050 Edgewood Ave. S.

Davis said the 125-seat restaurant with a full bar is aimed at harnessing a couple of trends popular with millennial diners: local craft beer and walkable neighborhoods.  The restaurant, tentatively called R Wood Fire Pizza, is set to open this fall. 

Photo used under Creative Commons license. 

Jessica Palombo can be reached at jpalombo@wjct.org, 904-358-6315, or on Twitter at @JessicaPubRadio.

Jessica Palombo oversees local news at WJCT News 89.9 and Jacksonville Today. With a master’s degree in broadcast and digital journalism from Syracuse University and bachelor's in journalism from the University of Florida, Jessica is a nearly lifelong resident of Jacksonville. You may have once seen her on a local community theater stage. These days, you can most likely catch her reading a book in a school pickup line.