Mark Perzel talks with author Don M. Fox about his book, "Welcome to Firehouse! Building a Billion Dollar Brand in America’s Most Competitive Industry." Turns out, building a successful restaurant chain isn’t just about the food—it’s branding, culture, timing, and a fair amount of learning things the hard way. Done gets into the early days of Firehouse Subs, what separates a good brand from a great one, and how a sandwich shop ended up saving lives. Worth a listen if you’ve ever wondered what actually goes on behind your favorite place to eat.

LISTENER DISCOUNT CODE: Receive a 25% discount on this title when purchased from McFarland's website by using the code BESTPART at checkout: mcfarlandbooks.com/product/welcome-to-firehouse

FEATURED TITLE: Welcome to Firehouse: Building a Billion Dollar Brand in America’s Most Competitive Industry. McFarland, softcover (2026) ISBN: 9781476698670 mcfarlandbooks.com/product/welcome-to-firehouse

BOOK DESCRIPTION: After a 27-year journey that began in 1994, Firehouse Subs reached $1 billion in annual system sales for the first time. This culminated in the sale of the company to Restaurant Brands International in 2021, marking the transition of the brand originally started by brothers Chris and Robin Sorensen.

In this book, author Don M. Fox (who was CEO of Firehouse Subs for more than 14 years) traces the brand’s development from its founding through its major achievements. It includes insights from other key members inside the organization, detailing strategies, decisions, and internal operations that shaped the company’s growth. It also addresses how Firehouse Subs navigated challenges such as the Great Recession and the Covid-19 pandemic.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Don Fox is the former CEO of Firehouse Subs, having led the brand from 2009 until his retirement in 2023. He was recognized by Nation’s Restaurant News as 2011’s Operator of the Year, and in 2013, received the prestigious Silver Plate Award from the International Food Manufacturers Association. In 2024, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association. He continues to serve on profit and nonprofit boards, including the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation and the Army Historical Foundation.

www.donmfox.com | www.facebook.com/donmfox

OTHER BOOKS BY DON M. FOX:

The Fourth Armored Division Combat Chronology: Patton’s Vanguard in World War II. McFarland, softcover (2026) ISBN: 9781476698502 mcfarlandbooks.com/product/the-fourth-armored-division-combat-chronology

You’re a Good Man, Sergeant: The World War II Combat Memoir of an Armored Infantryman in Patton’s Third Army. Edited by Colleen C. Porter and Don M. Fox. McFarland, softcover (2024) ISBN: 9781476680095 mcfarlandbooks.com/product/youre-a-good-man-sergeant

Final Battles of Patton’s Vanguard: The United States Army Fourth Armored Division, 1945–1946. McFarland, softcover (2020) ISBN: 9781476680095 mcfarlandbooks.com/product/final-battles-of-pattons-vanguard

Patton’s Vanguard: The United States Army Fourth Armored Division. McFarland, softcover (2007 [2003]) ISBN: 9780786430949 mcfarlandbooks.com/product/pattons-vanguard

ABOUT MCFARLAND: McFarland, a leading independent publisher of academic and general-interest nonfiction books, is perhaps best known for the serious treatment of popular culture. Founded in 1979, McFarland is recognized among authors and readers as adventurous in range and a reliable source of worthy books that other publishers overlook. They have around 8,000 unique works for sale and publish about 350 new titles a year. Meeting high library standards has been a major focus since the company began, and many McFarland books have received awards from the academic-oriented (Choice Outstanding Academic Title, ALA Outstanding Reference Work) to the mainstream (Hugo, Edgar, Stoker, and Eisner, among others). mcfarlandbooks.com

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