2009.04.27
Firehouse Subs is open
Firehouse Subs is the second retailer to open its doors at Keagy Village in Southwest Roanoke County. This sub sandwich chain opened today. Chris and Carla Wissemann are the franchise owners.
Firehouse Subs has two other Roanoke Valley locations. One is at Towers Shopping Center in Roanoke and another is in Salem on West Main Street.
NTelos is the only other retailer at Keagy Village. Dunkin Donuts already has its space at the center, but I haven't heard back from Andy Rod, the franchise owner, today about a specific opening date. Rod last told me that the doughnut shop would open this month.
Kahn Development Co., the South Carolina developer of Keagy Village, has said that it expects the shopping complex to house 105,000 square feet of retail space.
Many of the buildings are up, but they are vacant, except for NTelos and Firehouse Subs.
I ate here last night! My family was so excited because we live in the Oak Grove Neigborhood and these are our favorite subs in town! The inside looks the same but it is a little bigger than the others, seems to be more seating available, the subs were just as fresh and great! And All the hot sauces there to choose from! This is one of the greatest restaraunts that Roanoke has gotten in the past decade. Great Food!
Comment by Troy2K — April 29, 2009 @ 8:27 am
As a former Roanoker now living in Atlanta, Firehouse Subs may be good, but cannot beat The New Yorker Delicatessen on Williamson Road. I have tried to find subs in the metro Atlanta area that will compare and have not found any that will. The Torpedo at the New Yorker is superb.
Comment by Greg — April 29, 2009 @ 11:42 am
You're right Greg. When someone tries to tell me that Firehouse, Subway or Quiznos has the best subs in town....I just laugh at them. I have many family and friends who come back to visit and the one place they insist on going is the New Yorker.
Comment by Justafan — April 29, 2009 @ 3:12 pm
I vote for New York Subs in Vinton... the New Yorker doesn't offer a variety of hot and cold subs.\
The New Yorker deli can't compare to Carnegie Deli.
Comment by Adowntownbusiness — April 30, 2009 @ 12:01 am
Justafan, you are so right! these people who think the fast food subs are the best are addicted to fast food! The New Yorker is good traditional deli food, the way true delicatessan food should be. Go to a big city deli in Chicago, New York or Philadelphia and you will find food like the New Yorker's. The Best!!
Comment by Kathy — April 30, 2009 @ 12:52 pm
I have never eaten at firehouse subs so I don't know how they are. Subway is good and cheap now with their $5 subs but even before that they were light with the toppings. I haven't eaten at New York in Vinton in years. They were good and sometimes great but not that great to go in and drop nearly $10. Got Quiznos brought to me once and it was good but at nearly $12 for a foot long I'll go back to New York in Vinton. Sheetz subs are fairly good and unlike Subway they aren't not stingy with the toppings. Some prices are OK too.
Comment by Mike D — April 30, 2009 @ 1:57 pm
The New Yorker is the best in Roanoke by far. However if you want a good sub, pizza, calzone, etc near the new Firehouse Subs go just down the street to Oak Grove Plaza and try Highlander. Excellent food.
Comment by RMac — April 30, 2009 @ 2:54 pm
I've eaten at the Carnegie Deli in Manhatten and you're right, it's fantastic. But I don't think they have a location in the Rke Valley.
Comment by Justafan — April 30, 2009 @ 4:22 pm
I am one of those who does not see the big deal about Firehouse Subs. I'll stick to New York subs or On the Rise.
Comment by Debbie — May 1, 2009 @ 11:25 am
I agree with everyone. Firehouse Subs is no big deal. Boring!
Comment by Joe — May 10, 2009 @ 9:39 pm
I'm w/ most of you here, not a Firehouse sub fan! Tried it a few times, just haven't been impressed at all. NEVER go to Subway, they don't put any meat on their subs! I can get a sandwich at O'Brian's Meats for $1.65 that has more meat on it than Subway will use (on ALL their subs) in two hours! Quiznos; YUK! Went there a couple of times w/ coupons when they first opened in Salem. NOT good, and not worth the money even w/ a coupon. THE NEW YORKER DELI! Now THERE is a sub or sandwich! As mentioned by someone above, it's like a "big city" deli and we're lucky to have it here in our (relatively) smaller city. I have a vastly different opinion than RMac regarding Highlander Pizza at Oak Grove. Had a most horrible experience there and will never go back! Won't go into details here but I've written about it before either on this blog or on Lindsey's blog.
Comment by Dennis — May 11, 2009 @ 11:15 am
Keagy Village would be a great location for a Chipotle! I ate at Baja Bistro the other week and I will never go back.... disgusting...
Comment by Bryan — May 11, 2009 @ 12:35 pm
Well, I want to disagree with all of you people who thing Firehouse is "NO BIG DEAL". I used to work at subway and at one time, even considered trying to open a franchise. I agree, the subs are good but Firehouse is definetely better. Yes, they may me more expensive, but i think the better quality that you get is worth it.
The one thing that I like best about Firehouse is how the bread comes out after it is toasted. At Subway, it comes out hard. They only started toasting bread after Firehouse showed up in town. Subway, give up--your subs will never beat the quality of Firehouse's.
Next, is the attention you get when you go in there. I have called ahead numerous times to order and my food has been ready when i get there to pick it up. Subway is slow. I have a 30 minute lunch and sometimes go to the Vinton location when I want a sub and it takes almost my entire lunch.
As far as New York Pizza in Vinton-the pizza and the subs are great and the restaurant has a good atmosphere. I haven't been to the New Yorker in years, but from what I remember the food wasn't all that.
I will choose Firehouse over Subway any day.
I wish they would open in Vinton.
Comment by Jenny — May 12, 2009 @ 7:32 am
Dennis, I can't imagine what bad experience you could have has at Highlander- give them another try. I have been there many times and have always been satisfied. I wouldn't cross the street for a free Subway sandwich, Quiznos is hit and miss, (the Italian is really good). Zeros- is zero, Blimpies is disgusting and Firehouse is skimpy- so you see I am not easy to please but I give Highlander high ratings.
Comment by RMac — May 12, 2009 @ 2:55 pm
The food at Highlander is very good but the service is TERRIBLE.
Comment by Debi — May 13, 2009 @ 9:04 am