Millburn Deli, the 80-year-old North Jersey sandwich institution known for its oversized sandwiches and cold, multi-decker Sloppy Joes, has added a location in downtown Westwood. The chain's Westwood storefront at 301 Center Avenue gives Bergen County shoppers and commuters another outpost of a brand that started as a single Millburn shop nearly eight decades ago.
As Boozy Burbs reports, Millburn Deli has expanded well beyond its original downtown Millburn shop, now operating locations in Millburn, Morristown, Montclair, Westfield, and Bridgewater, with menus built around fresh ingredients, family recipes, and a comfort-food sensibility that keeps landing the chain on best-sandwich lists across the state.
Westwood marks the second Bergen County location for Millburn Deli. The chain's first foray into the county came on June 20, when it opened a storefront at 15 Oak Street in Ridgewood, an event that drew long lines, according to New Jersey 101.5. The Ridgewood blog reports that the deli gave away free sandwiches to its first 100 customers. The second Bergen County shop extends the brand's reach into new territory.
From One Millburn Storefront to a Statewide Chain
Millburn Deli's roots trace back to 1946, when World War II veteran Samuel Fluke founded the shop in downtown Millburn, according to the Ridgewood blog. The business has since expanded beyond downtown Millburn.
Millburn Deli has expanded to locations in Morristown, Montclair, Westfield, and Bridgewater, per reporting from Patch. The Bridgewater location gives the chain a presence in Central Jersey and Somerset County. These locations extend the chain beyond its original Essex County footprint.
What's on the Menu, and Why the Sloppy Joe Isn't What Outsiders Expect
Millburn Deli's menu spans hot and cold sandwiches, wraps, salads, sides, and specialty creations, but its reputation rests largely on a handful of signature items. Among them are “The Godfadda,” a pressed roll piled with breaded chicken cutlet, smoked bacon, mozzarella, and Russian dressing, and “The Gobbler,” a turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce combination on rye, according to reporting from New Jersey Digest. Those items regularly earn mentions on statewide best-sandwich rankings.
Readers outside North Jersey should know that the deli's namesake Sloppy Joe bears little resemblance to the ground-beef sandwich found elsewhere in the country. In Northern New Jersey, the term refers to a cold, multi-decker rye sandwich stacked with sliced deli meats, Swiss cheese, coleslaw, and Russian dressing. The style's origin is uncertain, but one account says Maplewood Mayor Thomas Sweeney visited Havana and commissioned the owners of South Orange's Town Hall Deli to recreate a sandwich, according to Taste Cooking.
The Westwood Storefront
The Westwood location is at 301 Center Avenue in downtown Westwood.
With locations now stretching from Millburn to Morristown, Montclair, Westfield, Bridgewater, Ridgewood, and Westwood, Millburn Deli's expansion shows little sign of slowing. The chain's full menu and location list are available at millburndeli.com.
