As snow fell outside, two owners of a new restaurant waited for a moment a long time coming: cutting the ceremonial red ribbon as officials filled their new eatery.

Dave Tucci, New England representative for Firehouse Subs, said Topsham was “nothing short of spectacular” in its support helping Chad LaChance and Coleman Sheffield bring a Firehouse Subs to Topsham — Maine’s first.

“Firehouse Subs is about carrying on our commitment and dedication to hearty, favorable food, heartfelt service and most importantly, public safety,” Tucci said. “Every restaurant that we open, the franchisees really dedicate the restaurant to local fire departments, police, EMT and public service entities that protect all of us.”

LaChance is a hospitalist at Mid Coast Hospital. Originally from Lisbon Falls, he moved back to his hometown last year.

Sheffield, who is from Alabama where the two met, formerly worked as a truck driver and moved to Lisbon Falls so the two could start the new venture.

There was a Firehouse Subs near where Sheffield lived where the two would eat, and LaChance said his friend was determined the new venture was going to be a Firehouse Subs.

He said he was impressed and surprised with the activity in the Topsham Fair Mall once returning to the area.

Sheffield has a lot invested in the stores, with another one going into Auburn soon, LaChance said. “I think he’s going to do a great job with it.”

LaChance works with public safety personnel, often seeing members of the police and fire departments in the emergency room.

Sheffield was busy Monday overseeing everything, and said after the initial rush he was really happy that members of the Topsham Fire and Rescue Department were able to come and enjoy a free meal.

Firehouse Subs has a nonprofit foundation dedicated to public safety, established in 2005, that provides funding, lifesaving equipment, disaster assistance and educational opportunities for first-responders and public safety organizations.

From the best-seller Hook & Ladder Sub to the Firehouse Meatball to the Fully Involved sub, a team of workers went into action to prepare orders for public safety members, who noshed happily Monday.

Sheffield said that, by February, Firehouse Subs will have a new menu featuring items with fewer than 500 calories.

Nearby, Mattress Firm recently opened a 4,000- square-foot showroom on the opposite side of Firehouse Subs, and the new Agren store on Mallett Drive, which opened in late November, will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony Friday morning.

dmoore@timesrecord.com

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