Tina Norman
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing to formally report a major food safety hazard involving an order prepared today at your Firehouse Subs location on Zelda Road in Montgomery, AL. 12/02/25
My fiancée, Algernon, picked up our call-in order after completing a 12-hour shift. While eating his sandwich, he bit down on a piece of glass, believing it was part of the olives due to its shape and transparency. Attached are photos clearly showing the glass shard found inside the sandwich, including its size and sharp edges.
This could have caused severe oral injury, internal damage, or required emergency medical treatment. The potential hospital bill, pain, and long-term consequences are extremely concerning.
After discovering the shard, we contacted the restaurant immediately. We spoke with Sharee, who informed us that the employee who took our order was new. While we understand new staff may be in training, glass contamination is a life-threatening issue that must be taken seriously regardless of experience level.
Sharee is preparing a replacement sandwich, and Algernon is returning both the shard and the sandwich for review. However, due to the seriousness of this incident, we are requesting the following:
1. A full internal investigation into how glass entered the food preparation area.
2. Proper corrective action and retraining to ensure this never happens again.
3. Formal documentation of this complaint at both the store and corporate level.
4. Written acknowledgment from management regarding the safety measures being implemented.
Food safety is non-negotiable. This situation could have resulted in a medical emergency, and it is critical that Firehouse Subs addresses this immediately to protect all customers.
We look forward to your prompt response.
Sincerely,
Antoinette M. Norman
UPDATE:
FOOD SAFETY WARNING – FIREHOUSE SUBS (Zelda Road, Montgomery AL)
I normally don’t post things like this, but this could have seriously hurt someone.
Today we placed a call-in order at Firehouse Subs on Zelda Road. After working a 12-hour shift, Algernon sat down to eat his sub… and bit down on a piece of GLASS inside his sandwich. At first, he thought it was part of the olives because of the shape, but then he said that it was glass, then I checked it myself, it was a sharp glass “shard” that could have caused MAJOR injury.
We immediately called the restaurant and spoke with Sharee, who said she was the team lead. She asked him to bring the sandwich and the shard back so she could “see it” and do a report.
UPDATE 2‼️‼️‼️
Sooo Algernon drove there within 5 minutes…and when he arrived, he requested Sharee (who were had spoken to on the phone) but the employee stated that Sharee, was already gone.
They replaced the sandwich, but the way the situation was handled made us feel like they were trying to avoid documenting it, hiding the evidence, or throwing it out, even though this was a VERY SERIOUS “safety issue”. And she did tell us she had an idea of what it could’ve been but she needed to look at it!!!This could have easily turned into an ER visit, stitches, internal injury, or worse. Food safety is nothing to play with.
UPDATE 3‼️12/11
I’m updating my review to clarify what happened. A week ago, my fiancé bit into a glass shard that was inside his sandwich from this location. When I called the store, I told Sharee I was so shaken and upset that I couldn’t even finish my own sandwich. She agreed and understood how serious it was, and asked us to bring the glass and sandwich back so she could file a report.I also later discovered on Facebook that “another customer” in Montgomery (never acquainted) found glass in their Firehouse sandwich the same week 12/09/25 at a different location‼️That is concerning and SCARY‼️
The owner responded publicly to me 20 hours ago even though this review was posted a week ago. I appreciate the reply, but the delay and the lack of an incident report when we called are troubling. I hope corporate investigates how this happened and why the situation wasn’t handled properly when we reported it.
… moreCheyenne McKoy
Staff were extremely disrespectful to my mother at this location. She picked up my online order for me because I am down from having surgery on March 21st and I still haven’t heard back about my complaint or a refund. I ordered a hook & ladder, a turkey/bacon sandwich and a steak sandwich and they took it upon themselves & made 3 Turkey sandwiches and had it stapled up in my to go bag. They also did not include any of the chips or drinks I ordered. My mom checked the bag and noticed all the sandwiches were incorrect & when she asked they said their slicer was down so they made us random sandwiches without asking us if we were okay with that. In addition, I am allergic to dairy and my mother stressed that to them in person. I ordered no mayo, no ranch, no condiments period online and ranch was still put on my sandwich- which was not realized until she had the food all the way to my house in Wetumpka. It is very concerning to me that they would just disregard someone’s allergy to food. How dangerous. I ordered to pick up at 705 and she was mistreated and waited for a resolution in the store until almost 8 pm. By the time she made it home- we did not have time to make it back before they closed. I ended up having to just throw the food away and find something else to eat in my house for dinner after just having surgery. She was disrespected and treated horribly, I couldn’t even eat and my mothers sandwich was all incorrect(only included turkey on her hook and ladder) along with the extra steak and extra cheese that I paid for on my husbands steak Sandwich were not included. In addition- they said they made a turkey sandwich for my husbands meal because “they didn’t want to open a new bag of the steak” for his sandwich. Just wild. I need a refund. What a horrible experience. Their staff was terrible. When my mom got there and they started giving her problems I told her to just tell them to give me a refund. They said I had to request it in the app, but when I selected that there was an issue with my order in the firehouse app- it was sent to the corporate level and they said they can’t do anything that the refund has to be processed at the store level & said they forwarded my message. It has been more than a week at this point & I have yet to hear back from their management.
… moreMichael Holley
Food and atmosphere were great. The service lacked courtesy and friendliness. When we arrived they asked us how many sandwiches we needed. After telling them 5 the rolled the eyes and kept telling us to hurry up with the order. They did not want to work nor did they want us in the store. I’ve never felt so unwelcomed.
I will definitely travel to another location because I know some of the profits go to a good cause
… moreCoty Hall
I have eaten at this locally owned Firehouse for years. Maybe close to 15 years or longer. The owner who used to work there is a great guy and the business donates to a great cause. Firehouse is my first choice when it comes to a sandwich in Montgomery. My favorite is the Italian club +bacon but the meatball sub is great. My wife loves the hook and ladder with chopped pickles. Great chip selection and the drink machine is a Freestyle which I always enjoy. If you haven’t tried a steamed sub I suggest you give it a go.
… moreLea Tillman
I took my little neighbors to the store. I noticed they were hungry, so I took them here. It was in the same shopping center. They said they had never eaten here before.
They liked it! Our whole day was great! They said they had a very good day!
… moreDawn Ellis
I did not get my order. The person took a picture of the order being there, but why the nurses when down to get it which was very shortly after delivery, it was missing, no food!! I was charged and the food went missing! Not cool dood! Why would you do someone that way especially when they are in the hospital? That was low!
… moreKelito Smith
From the moment I walked into Firehouse Subs on Atlanta Hwy, I felt genuinely welcomed. The staff greeted me warmly and made me feel right at home — a rare touch that immediately set the tone for a great visit.
I ordered the large Smokehouse Brisket sub, and let me just say: it was absolutely delicious. My original plan was to take it home and enjoy it later, but after just one bite in the parking lot, I couldn’t stop. I ended up sitting there and savoring every bite — it was that good!
The brisket was tender, perfectly smoked, and loaded with flavor. Everything from the texture to the taste was on point. Pair that with quick, efficient service and an atmosphere of genuine hospitality, and you’ve got a five-star experience.
Thank you to the incredible team at this Firehouse Subs location. Your superior service and attention to quality truly made my day!
… moreLashanda Carter
Jan was very welcoming and very nice and prepared our orders with the best customer service and a great smile food was great and wonderful customer service will visit again.
… moreChuck Mann
I have frequented this location for many years. Typically food, service and atmosphere has been pretty good, up until my last visit yesterday (1/23/25). There was a whole different staff than in recent weeks/months. Previous staff I have delt with in past was very friendly, efficient and seem to work together well. On this visit there were 3 people behind the counter I had never seen before. One doing most of the work (with a not so pleasant attitude). It seemed the others weren’t really qualified or cared to do much else. I was fortunate enough to get my order taken when I got in. However, every one else that came in behind me were told they needed to go online to place their orders. As other customers walked in and found this out, they were leaving the store without ordering. As I left and was in the parking lot I heard some telling others not to go in as orders were not being taken inside. Seems like a management issue or lack there of. I hope something catches management’s eye and some changes are put into place soon. If not, I don’t see me or anyone else for that matter being able to go there anymore as it won’t be open for much longer.
… moreHeather Maxwell
I ordered my food online using the rapid rescue to go option because I had a medical appointment during my lunch and had no time to wait for food. The order was sent in at 12:18pm for a 12:30 pick up per the online order. I arrived at the restaurant at 12:38. My food was not at the pick up location. I waited for another 2 minutes before someone asked me if I was waiting on a pick up order. After saying yes, I continued to wait. After another minute, I asked if my was order was close to ready and and was told that they would be starting my order next. I was already running late and did not have the time to continue to wait, so I attempted to cancel the order online. The AI message told me that I would have to contact the restaurant to cancel. I then told the employee, I did not have time to wait for my sandwich and I just needed to cancel the order and was then told that they only had two people working and I was just going to have to be patient,and ” just cause the app told you 12:30 don’t mean its gonna be ready when you get here.” I then said, I just needed a refund. The employee then told me that she had other orders to complete and if I wanted a refund, I had to wait. She then told me that she would give me my money back and also give me that sandwich. This would still make me late, but OK at least I was going to get something for my trouble. After several more minutes, the sandwich was placed on the counter and she said “there’s your sandwich.” I waited a few moments and she looked at me and said “what, you still want your money back?” When I said yes, I wanted my money back, she told her coworker to “take that sandwich and put it in the back” as she walked over to the cash register. I have now been in the location for over 10 minutes when I should have been able to walk in and pick up my sandwich. When I met her at the register, she proceeded to inform me that since I ordered online that she could not give a refund in the store. I told her the app stated I had to contact the store to cancel the order. I was then told that she was the general manager and they don’t refund online orders in the store. Therefore, I left the store with no sandwich, no refund and a very bad impression of Firehouse Subs and especially the “general manager” Shay.
… more