Firehouse Subs Fowler — Restaurant in Florida

Bad, REALLY CRAZY!!! but bad... read if you feel like laughing and smacking your head!

(Updated- A responsible party read this review and has reached out to assure this would be addressed. I gave them an extra 2 stars. I don't want to just criticize people and appreciate it when someone can step-up even if it might be embarrassing. Thanks Hannah!)

Now- here is the craziness....

We were getting a late dinner (about 8pm) and chose this location because it closes later than the others. It's open until 10pm.

At first glance, it seems pleasant enough. We were the only ones in the store. And we didn't even get the, "welcome to firehouse." Until another 30 seconds passed of the female co-worker ranting about the other shifts to a male co-worker. Once he was free for discussion, he greeted us. I didn't express irritation. It takes a lot more to get me upset.

The male co-worker was obviously new. The female had to press a few buttons on the register and then stepped to the edge of the kitchen to observe and CONTINUE ranting about the other staff members. We ordered 4 sandwiches. 2 of those are the kids GRILLED CHEESE and we were there about an hour! The entire time the girl never lifts a finger to help the very inexperienced young man and CONTINUES STILL complaining ever more aggressive about the job and how lazy everyone else is. ( Ironically. )

It is bad. Really bad. The boy is just hostage to her tirade and all the while trying to get answers on how to make the different sandwiches. The young man asked how to make a grilled cheese! Worse- the girl told him NOT to put it on the foil wrapper, but to put it on PAPER and just one slice of cheese! Thank God the young man "mistakenly" used foil and "cheesed it up." We would have been in an actual FIRE house!

Because she never quit complaining, I found out that she has been "working" there for a year and she was not able to stay & help do the dishes or clean up because her age prevents her from staying until 11. The time we were there, she could have cleaned the whole store. (And it needs it!) Sticky tables & floor, icky bathroom, sloppy work space & soda station. She honestly stood there complaining the entire time. The young man made our sandwiches amazingly slow, but properly- despite the ill-advised coworker and her dangerous directions.

Through all this- I never complained or showed any irritation. My husband and I were actually entertained by how exceptionally terrible this experience was and continued to be more shocked at her behavior by the minute. All of this while me, my husband and daughter are in the store! Even made eye contact with her a few times!

Please, may a manager read this and get this poor boy a competent coworker to properly train him. And please please teach this little girl about work ethic. And customer service. And supporting her team, responsibilities, respect for her peers and management, subordination, sense of duty, how to prepare the menu items, how NOT to burn down the store and just some manners! Guys- it was bad! Really crazy! But bad....

I try to share my positive experiences in my reviews. Too many people are so fast to criticize and not praise. But I have to make an exception here because this branch...

I pulled up at the store at around 8:05pm or so and noticed that the open sign was turned off. I entered the store and upon entry, I was asked if I had placed an order by one of the employees behind the counter. I said no and he told me that they weren't taking any more orders because they had to clean up. I was dumbfounded. After it was obvious that I had a problem with the employee's response, the other person behind the counter stated that he meant to say that because there were so many T-mobile Tuesday coupons being used, that they were running out of produce and weren't going to have enough to make enough sandwiches. I said that he should've said that in the first place and the original employee said that it was going to take too long to say that. Another customer came in afterwards and was told the same thing, but his attitude had grown even worse towards her, because he accused her of stealing a drink. The employee was asked his name and he said it was Samuel. I was told after I walked out of the store, that he stated that he can get another job. This is unacceptable behavior by someone who represents your company. If he doesn't want to give at least basic good customer service, then maybe he should consider looking into...

Ordered sandwhich today. Only customer present shortly after store opened. Ordered and waited for one of two staff members to prepare. Observed one staff person pick up bacon from the serving area with bare hand and take a bite. Said to coworker that bacon was "nasty" and threw remaining bacon in her bare hand back into the container. Coworker had gloves on, and was preparing a catering box. Went back and forth from back of store opening cabinets and coolers as well as several other tasks and then back to food several times without changing gloves. Person preparing my food, with gloves on at this point, wiping food from the preparing station onto the floor with her hand, preparing catering box with gloves on and then touching food without changing gloves. And the absolute kicker was when she reached under the counter into a bucket of water, pulled about a dishrag, wiped the counter, put my food on the counter and then continues to prepare my sandwich with the same gloves she put into the dirty water. I asked for my money back and explained what I observed while standing at the counter. She returned my money without acknowledging my concerns. Will never go back. It's a shame, because I like...