It Really Is 99 Miles to Philly
If you were to map a route to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from Union Square in Manhattan, it would amount to about 99 miles. So it’s no surprise that when a popular sandwich shop called The Joint first opened its doors in February 2005 it was called 99 Miles to Philly.
When the shop opened on nearby 3rd Avenue, it specialized in the Philly cheesesteak sandwich, a much-loved mess of a sandwich typically made from a long, crusty roll, thinly sliced steak and melted cheese. At the time, finding a good cheesesteak place in Manhattan was tough; it was almost easier just to drive to the City of Brotherly Love.
Today, patrons at The Joint can still enjoy plenty of cheesesteaks (beef or chicken), but also pick from an expanded menu that includes items like triple- stack burgers and specialty hot dogs. Neil Barsky, a partner at the restaurant, said that his company realized it couldn’t survive doing business in New York City if it basically had only one product to sell.
“We felt by rebranding with an expanded new menu, which will feature burgers, specialty hot dogs and monthly specialty sandwiches, we could continue to survive and keep good people employed,” Barsky said recently.
A neighborly way of thinking reigns at The Joint. Here, employees remember the names and orders of regular customers, and since the shop is just a few blocks from New York University, it’s often filled with students who like the affordable prices. A wholesome sandwich with a drink and waffle fries will set you back only about $10.
NYU student Arman Sadr visits The Joint at least once a week. At first, he worried about the sudden name change. “I was afraid they wouldn’t honor my stamp card with the name change, but when I heard ownership had not changed, I knew I would be able to redeem my free meal,” he said.
Going from Manhattan to Philadelphia still takes 99 miles, but now sandwich lovers like Sadr can keep sticking close to home.
