Kent Olson/MDN Firehouse Subs franchise owners Steve Keller and Denise Pardon are not only partners in the business but brother and sister.

Monday, Oct. 24: 3112 16th Street SW: restaurant serving “fully involved” Hook & Ladder sub sandwiches.

In this case the first customers enjoyed Firehouse Sub sandwiches that many had waited a long time to see served in Minot. The first responders? Well, they’ll benefit in due time as Firehouse Subs is keen on generating donations for first responders.

The Hook & Ladder? That is probably better tasted than explained, but in short it is the most popular sandwich served by more than 1,000 Firehouse Sub franchises in the U.S. and Canada.

Minot franchise owners Steve Keller and his sister Denise Pardon say they are overwhelmed with the reception their restaurant has enjoyed these past two weeks.

“We knew that a lot of people were waiting for it,” said Pardon. “Especially a lot of people from the base, because they’re from the South and (Firehouse) is all over down south.”

“It’s been great – more than we ever expected,” she said.

Both Keller and Pardon, Minot natives, have restaurant experience but this is their first venture together. She owned a Happy Joe’s franchise in Minot for 15 years and he managed Burger King restaurants in Indianapolis some time ago.

“It comes back to you. It’s kind of like riding a bike,” Keller said of getting back into the food business.

What attracted both Keller and Pardon to Firehouse Subs was the history behind the company and the mission to raise money for first responders. Firehouse was founded by real firemen, brothers Chris and Robin Sorenson, in Jacksonville, Fla.

Their father was also a fireman, so the firehouse theme has meaning. Founded in 1994, Firehouse Subs took a turn in 2005 when the Sorensons went to Louisiana to cook for first responders there following Hurricane Katrina.

Since then more than $20 million has been donated to causes through grants from their public safety foundation.

Keller and Pardon say the money is raised in two primary ways. First, customers are asked if they would care to donate to the foundation by rounding their bills up to the nearest dollar. Secondly, Firehouse Subs five-gallon pickle pails – popular with customers – can be purchased for $2 each.

But Keller and Pardon were also drawn to the Firehouse Subs menu, particularly with the way the sandwiches are prepared.

“The sandwich is just unique,” said Pardon. It’s more than just a sub. It’s warm. The bun is toasted, the meat is prime … and we slice it fresh.”

The meat and cheese are then steamed for nearly 3 minutes, which brings out all of the flavor of the meat, Pardon said, and sets a Firehouse sub apart from other sandwiches.

Besides inside dining and takeout, FireHouse Subs caters and will eventually offer delivery.

Kent Olson/MDN
Firehouse Subs franchise owners Steve Keller and Denise Pardon are not only partners in the business but brother and sister.

Kent Olson/MDN
The decor at Firehouse Subs includes well-worn, authentic firefighter gear.