A Fairview Heights sandwich shop closes suddenly and may be sold. Here’s what we know
A Fairview Heights sandwich shop closed suddenly late last week.
Firehouse Subs, at 5909 N. Illinois St., currently has a handwritten sign on the door stating, “We are closed!! Indefinitely!!!”
An image of the notice was posted on the Fairview Heights IL Chatter Facebook page. I also received an email from a reader over the weekend asking if the location is closed permanently.
Plans are in the works for the location to reopen at a later date and under new ownership.
An email thread between the city’s finance team and Firehouse Subs franchise owner Rod Wanjala regarding sales tax payments to the city was provided by Land Use and Development Director Dallas Alley.
Wanjala wrote in a May 20 email, “After some careful consideration, I have decided to sell [the Fairview Heights] location. I have found a qualified existing Firehouse Subs Franchisee (Chris Steinacher).”
The email continued to refer to Steinacher as an “excellent operator” of his current locations in Edwardsville and Collinsville. Wanjala wrote that the transfer of ownership should be completed over the next few weeks.
On June 5, Wanjala wrote that folks from Firehouse were in town to “do a scope of work for the transfer to a new owner” and that they are moving as quickly as possible to complete the transition.
I spoke briefly with Steinacher, who said that he and his wife Evelyn, are “trying to pursue the location,” but he hasn’t heard from Wanjala for a couple of weeks.
For now, it’s a matter of waiting, according to Steinacher.
Messages left for Wanjala were not immediately returned.
Inquiries were also sent to Restaurant Brands International, which owns Firehouse Subs, and Firehouse Subs’ public relations.
Updates will be reported as new information becomes available.
