After being delayed by a few months due to COVID-19, work is back underway to transform the former RBC Bank on London Road into a Firehouse Subs location.
It was hoped the restaurant could open as early as this summer, but that has been pushed back to early October.
Sarnia Franchise Owner Javed Qadree said exterior work is ongoing, and they're hoping to start on the inside by July which should take up to 75 days to complete.
He says they're looking to hire about 30 workers initially.
"That's going to include cashiers, general cooks, shift leaders, and managers as well," said Qadree. "However we're not looking to hire a new general manager as this time because we're leaving that position to grow from within, so employees that we hire currently. We want our general manager to be somebody that started off with us from day one."
The cost of renovations had been estimated at around $450,000.
Qadree said they'll be raising funds through the company's public safety foundation and Sarnia Fire and Rescue can apply for grants at the end of each year for things like life-saving equipment.
There are currently 27 Firehouse Subs restaurants owned and operated by local franchisees throughout Ontario.
Firehouse Subs was founded by brothers Chris and Robin Sorensen, two former firefighters in Jacksonville, Florida, back in 1994.
Since 2005, the company’s public safety foundation has donated over $44 million, in the form of life-saving equipment, to first responders in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada.
