Town Hall Deli

Call Directions Website Contact the restaurant

Town Hall Deli Town Hall Deli in South Orange, NJ is the Birthplace of the Sloppy Joe Sandwich. The Real Story of the Sloppy Joe
Town Hall Deli opened in 1927.
(362)

Its original home was on South Orange Avenue, a few doors
away from the actual Town Hall; hence the name, Town Hall Delicatessen. The Deli was
purchased in the 1930's from the original owner by Fred Joost and Hans Tiedeman; later Heinz Berdorf became Fred Joost's partner..... many villagers today still remember Fred and Heinz. During the 1930's, Mayor Sweeney, the then-Mayor of Maplewood, visited Havana, Cuba. At the time, Cuba was still open to American tourism. While there, he visited Sloppy Joe's Bar and Eatery. Ernest Hemingway and other famous figures frequented Joe's. The proprietor, Joe, was well-known for the disarray in the Bar in additon to being a famous hang-out- alas, the nickname "Sloppy" Joe! While the Mayor was at Joe's in Cuba, he developed a taste for a sandwich that he had never had before. In fact, he loved it so much that when he returned to the US, he asked Fred and Heinz to duplicate the recipe to serve at his weekly card game. It was made with cole slaw, ham, cow tongue, swiss cheese, with lots of dressing and was served on thin rye bread. Hence, the origin of the Sloppy Joe sandwich and how Town Hall Deli of South Orange became The Birthplace of the Sloppy Joe! Today, Sloppy Joes are made in a wide variety, using any two meats and a cheese of your choice, although there are many standard combinations too, if you do not know what you want. There are even meat-free choices. Although Town Hall Deli is famous across the country for inventing the Sloppy Joe, it is first and foremost a Delicatessen in the traditional style, serving quality storemade products for every meal, and specialty favorite desserts like Cheesecake, Brownies, and Rice Pudding. Town Hall Deli even makes their own preservative-free mayonnaise which is used in the salads and on the sandwiches! Town Hall Deli moved to its most commonly known location, the brick building at 18 South Orange Avenue, around 1940. Sold to its current owner, Tony Wonski, the Deli relocated twice- most recently in 2013, to 74 1st Street and prior to that in 2007 to 60 Valley Street- both just steps away from its previous locations. Town Hall is constantly adding to the offerings- for instance, today, many customers prefer lighter alternatives, and there a variety of sandwich and salad options including grilled chicken. The Godfather and Grilled Chicken Cesar Salad are very popular. The Reuben with Thick Cut Bread is a new favorite, even among old-timers. There are two or three homemade soups every single day- a great alternative for those trying to cut back on bread. For those who like tempting treats, there's store-baked Breakfast Muffins, NewHy's Cheesecake, Crumbcake, and Chocolate Mousse- all newer additions that everyone loves. And so, the tradition continues.

-Tony & Matt

Thank you asay!
09/20/2026

Thank you asay!

These 22 bakeries, restaurants, and delis serve Jewish food and treats across New Jersey.

Come Town Hall Deli
09/19/2026

Come Town Hall Deli

Thank you The Asbury Park Press!
09/11/2026

Thank you The Asbury Park Press!

From Italian subs and Reubens to Sloppy Joes and Gobblers, these 12 sandwiches are some of New Jersey's best.

Thank you NorthJersey.com!
09/10/2026

Thank you NorthJersey.com!

From brisket cheesesteaks to iconic NJ sloppy joes, these are the top sandwich spots to visit in North Jersey.

👀, thank you and Harlan Coben hope to see you again soon, sign up for The New York Times to read the rest of the articl...
09/08/2026

👀, thank you and Harlan Coben hope to see you again soon, sign up for The New York Times to read the rest of the article (also in print today!

Works every time #100 years
08/22/2026

Works every time #100 years

Uncle Jack stopped by to say hi today!
08/20/2026

Uncle Jack stopped by to say hi today!

08/19/2026

Come get sloppy Town Hall Deli

We are often imitated, never duplicated.
08/18/2026

We are often imitated, never duplicated.

Address

74 1st Street
South Orange, NJ
07079

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm
Saturday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

+19737624900

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Town Hall Deli posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Restaurant

Send a message to Town Hall Deli:

Shortcuts

Share

Category