Firehouse Subs has reached a major Canadian franchise milestone with the opening of its 200th restaurant in Canada, less than two years after crossing the 100-location mark. The landmark restaurant opened in Calgary, Alberta, the same province where the brand opened its 100th Canadian restaurant in Medicine Hat in November 2024.
The milestone underscores the rapid pace of Firehouse Subs’ Canadian expansion. The brand entered Canada in 2015 with its first locally owned franchiserestaurant in Oshawa, Ontario, and has since expanded across Ontario, British Columbia,Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.
Firehouse Subs had 112 Canadian restaurants at the end of 2024 according to Restaurant Brands International’s franchise data, meaning its Canadian network has grown substantially since then. RBI reported 1,496 Firehouse Subs restaurants globally at December 31, 2025, including 1,449 in the U.S. and Canada and 47 international locations. By June 30, 2026, the overall network had reached 1,546 restaurants.
The Calgary milestone also highlights the role of multi-unit franchisees in the brand’s Canadian growth. Cody Gosling and Mitch Turgeon, whose families have backgrounds in multi-generational quick-service restaurant operations, brought Firehouse Subs to Alberta with their first location in Okotoks. Their Calgary opening is their sixth Firehouse Subs restaurant.
For Gosling and Turgeon, the 200th opening has particular significance because their Alberta expansion began in Okotoks. The celebration included a giveaway of Hook & Ladder subs to the first 200 guests, Calgary Flames tickets and a grant ceremony supporting a local fire station.
Community investment remains a central part of the brand’s franchise proposition. Firehouse Subs says its Canadian restaurants and guests have helped provide more than $6.3 million in lifesaving equipment for first responders. To mark the 200th Canadian opening, the company is donating $54,389 to Redwood Meadows Fire Station, which suffered a major station fire at the end of 2025. The funding will help replace hydrant-related equipment lost in the blaze.
The initiative forms part of the wider Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, which the company says has awarded more than $115 million in lifesaving equipment and resources across North America. The foundation was established around the brand’s firefighter roots and its focus on supporting first responders and public safety organizations.
Founded in 1994 by firefighter brothers Chris and Robin Sorensen, Firehouse Subs built its identity around hot, hearty subs, service and public safety. The brand is now part of Restaurant Brands International (RBI), alongside Burger King, Popeyes and Tim Hortons. RBI had more than 33,000 restaurants across more than 120 countries and territories and nearly $47 billion in system-wide sales at the end of 2025; its latest corporate reporting puts annual system-wide sales at nearly $49 billion.
The Canadian growth push is also firmly franchise-led. Firehouse Subs says it is prioritizing high-potential Canadian markets and is looking for experienced, community-oriented operators, with particular interest in multi-unit franchisees and disciplined single-unit owners. The company’s franchise model supports both traditional restaurants and non-traditional formats such as universities, convenience stores, travel centres, food courts and sporting venues.
Firehouse Subs’ franchise strategy emphasizes multi-unit development. The company says many of its franchisees operate multiple restaurants and that qualified operators can pursue development agreements covering multiple locations. Its current franchise qualification criteria include a minimum of $150,000 in available liquid capital, while its U.S. franchise information lists a $20,000 initial franchise fee, a 6% royalty and a 5% marketing contribution. The published investment figures are U.S.-based, so Canadian prospects would need to review the applicable Canadian Franchise Disclosure Document for market-specific costs and terms.
Firehouse Subs’ Canadian trajectory is notable given how quickly its footprint has scaled. In November 2024, when the brand opened its 100th Canadian restaurant, it had added about 30 locations during that year and was targeting 40 openings for 2024. Less than two years later, the chain has doubled that footprint to 200, giving it a significantly larger platform from which to pursue further franchise development.
