Meet the Owners: Christine and William Vanderbilt

Whether you’re a regular customer or have only stopped by once or twice, you’re sure to have met at least one of the owners of Firehouse Subs in Orland Park. Christine and William Vanderbilt work in the sub shop as well as manage it. You can pick them out easily-- just look for the couple that interacts genuinely with each customer or is smiling even in the middle of a hectic lunch rush. Their kindness and personal outreach rubs off on both the staff and customers and makes Firehouse Subs in Orland Park a delightful place to dine.

The warmth shown by the Vanderbilts is fitting with the mission of the franchise. Firehouse Subs in Orland Park has roots in charity and public service. The parent franchise was started by firemen and is famous for its Public Safety Foundation, which donates money to First Responders across the nation. The Firehouse Subs in Orland Park store has donated more than $40,000 to fire departments and charities in less than a year. But the depths of charity and public service reach to a much deeper and more personal level for the store’s owners.

For Christine and William Vanderbilt, charity and public service is more than just an inclination; it’s a calling. The couple was called to Northern Seminary in 2002, where they received their Masters in Divinity. During her masters program and after, Christine found purpose as a Hospital Chaplain. Through these avenues, the Vanderbilts inspired others and fulfilled their mission to God. Little did they know that they would soon come to serve in an unexpected way.

In 2012, the Vanderbilts received a new calling to serve God. The couple had met at a sub shop, which inspired them to dream of opening a sub shop of their own one day. Now, presented with the opportunity to open a Firehouse Subs franchise, they took a leap of faith and decided to apply their faith, love, ministry, encouragement and passion to the restaurant industry.

As stated in an article on the Northern Seminary website, “With this restaurant, Christine discovered that she can witness and encourage people just as she did through her chaplaincy. This realization helped both Christine and William understand what it truly means to serve within the context of their lives. As a result, they consider every connection with a customer an outreach, and this outreach is continuing to impact Christ’s kingdom.”

The result of their ministry is palpable-- not only in the impressive dollars donated to fire departments and charities, but in the smiles of customers and staff. Stop by Firehouse Subs in Orland Park to meet the Vanderbilts, witness their passion and help their ministry by donating spare change from your order to the Public Safety Foundation.