Firehouse Subs replacing Avogadro’s Deli in the SUB

Firehouse Subs is bringing a sandwich shop back to the Strand Union Building (SUB).

The national chain is opening a new restaurant – possibly by the start of the spring semester – to replace Avogadro’s Deli, which was owned by MSU Culinary Services, but has been closed since March 2020. The shop, located in the hallway behind Leigh Lounge, has been vacant since COVID-19 forced the consolidation of food services throughout campus into the dining halls. “It closed because we didn't have the labor force to keep it open,” said Butch Damberger, director of the SUB.

“We’re optimistically targeting the start of spring semester [for the opening date], but we have a couple of hurdles in front of us that we're aggressively trying to battle,” said Jeff Catron, co-owner of Bozeman’s Firehouse Subs.

According to Catron, these hurdles include general construction challenges, supply chain constraints, permitting and inspections.

“But we're being optimistic,” he said. “We're focused on that date and we're driving as hard as we can for that.”

“Over the years, with COVID and everything that's happened, we've slowly just closed operations down from the Sweet Shop to the Bobcat Grill and I'm just excited to be opening something rather than closing something and bringing a little more variety to the building,” Damberger said. “I'm hoping that we can continue this path and down the road open up other venues in the building.”

Last spring, MSU students suggested to MSU Culinary Services that the empty space should be filled by a national chain. “We did a little investigating and we decided that we would put it out for an RFP to see if we could get somebody in the space to start operating it,” said Mike Kosevich, director of MSU Culinary Services.

An RFP is a request for proposals. It allowed potential food vendors to bid on the space before a winner was selected to open up operations.

And Firehouse Subs was the winner of the RFP, Kosevich said. Menu variety and affordability were a few reasons that Firehouse Subs was selected to fill the space.

“I'm excited about the convenience for the students, faculty and staff. Because we see a lot of them in our other restaurant now,” Catron said. “This is going to make it so much more convenient for them, a walk instead of a drive.”

Currently, the plan is for the new sandwich shop to be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the week and then “expand as soon as we can based on the needs and the customer demand,” Catron said.

Catron is hoping to hire a few new employees as he expands his business to include another restaurant in Bozeman, and has a job listing out on Indeed.

Firehouse Subs currently has one restaurant in Bozeman, four restaurants in Montana, and 1,250 restaurants nationally.

“In the franchise world it’s not a huge number, but it gives a lot of experience and I want to say there's a dozen on college campuses right now,” Catron said.

The sandwich shop will operate as an independent business within the SUB – and that’s a new concept for MSU, said Isabella Roccisano, ASMSU Vice President. In the past, MSU Culinary Services has had control over all food service operations on campus.

However, “culinary has had serious staffing issues. So, outsourcing some of these spaces in the SUB to another company has become more attractive,” Roccisano said.

Culinary Services has been on board during this process. “I would not lie, there was definitely a little bit of nervousness because it is a new area for us to get into. But as we got through the process, and as we're going through it, I think it's been nothing but good,” Kosevich said. “It's going to benefit everybody.”

The upcoming opening of a new restaurant in the SUB has many people thrilled. “I'm most excited for how it serves the students that eat lunch in the SUB every day. Adding another option is never a bad thing,” Roccisano said. “Hopefully it will kind of spread students out and maybe reduce the lines that build up at the union market some days.”

The new restaurant is a way to bring some life back to the SUB, Kosevich said.

Additionally, a portion of all Firehouse Subs sales goes to its Public Safety Foundation, which works to provide lifesaving equipment to first responders. “Not only are you getting a good lunch at a decent price,” Catron said. “But you're also doing something good for your community.”