When the Shlemon family took over Philadelphia Sandwich Co. a few years ago, it was about more than acquiring another restaurant. It was an opportunity to carry on a legacy of the longtime San Diego sandwich shop, built over nearly five decades at 6904 Miramar Road.
The business was opened in 1979 by Joe Crescenzo. When the time came for Crescenzo to retire and move back to Philadelphia, he turned to the Shlemons, who have been operating Abby’s Real Texas Barbecue in a neighboring unit for nearly just as long.
“He reached out to us and asked, ‘Do you want to take over? Your family is the only people I know would really carry on the legacy.’,” explained Angelique Shlemon, who handles marketing for Shlemon Hospitality Group.
They officially acquired the business in November 2022, and it was important to them to respect the longtime brand and uphold the quality for those who have been patronizing the shop for nearly a half-century.
“We wanted to really earn their business and earn their trust,” Shlemon said. “What makes running restaurants so beautiful is the community that’s attached to the brand.”
A few modernization efforts have taken place, like updating the restaurant’s logo, launching a website and social media presence, and refreshing the dining room with new tables, high tops, bar stools, and paint.
Philadelphia Sandwich Co. is known for its cheesesteaks, which are made with ribeye steak and bread imported from Philadelphia. The restaurant offers several cheese options, including provolone, Cooper Sharp, yellow American, Swiss, and Cheese Whiz, and prepares its own au jus sauce.
Beyond cheesesteaks, the menu includes Italian hoagies, grilled pastrami with Swiss, fries, and loaded fries topped with cheesesteak. Customers can customize their sandwiches with a variety of toppings, including grilled onions, spicy peppers, cherry red hots, jalapeños, and a sweet pepper relish.
“There is lots of versatility, but some of the best sandwiches are rather simple yet done really well, and I think that’s what we execute,” Shlemon said.
The family is also working on expanding the menu, collaborating with Shlemon’s brother, Mark, who is a chef known online as the Grumpy Chef. New offerings will include additional sandwiches and cheesesteak bowls.
The company offers takeout, delivery, catering, and pop-up events where they bring a Blackstone grill, preparing cheesesteaks fresh for customers.
Looking further ahead, the Shlemons hope to add to Philadelphia Sandwich Co. and its impact, eventually expanding into multiple locations.
