One of Jacksonville’s first Firehouse Subs will reopen Wednesday in its original site on University Boulevard South, almost two years after a speeding car smashed into it and killed two people inside.
Early on Aug. 16, 2023, the driver of a BMW lost control heading north on University Boulevard South and crashed into the back corner of the Firehouse Subs building. The car ended up inside the building before bursting into flames.
The city initially condemned the building, but officials at Restaurant Brands International, which bought the chain in 2021, said the store was renovated because fans wanted it reopened.
“The University restaurant is one of our most popular restaurants in Jacksonville, and we look forward to once again serving guests in the area,” the company said in a statement. “Our guests have been calling and asking us when we are reopening from the moment it closed as it’s such a staple of University Boulevard. We took our time to make sure the city made some improvements, and it also allowed us to completely redesign our restaurant to better serve our guests.”…