Antonio's Deli picks up where Chickie's leaves off
Antonio Sawan managed to inherit several employees from previous management.
Chickie's Italian Deli's claim to fame was its veggie hoagie, a luscious layering of baked eggplant, sauteed broccoli rabe, house-roasted peppers and sharp Provolone cheese inside a Sarcone's roll.
When the shop in Bella Vista closed in April after two decades - the casualty of divorce - the sandwich seemingly vanished along with it.
That's not necessarily the case.
Sawan is slowly stocking the shop, whose specialty is, naturally, South Philly-style Italian sandwiches. Prices are about the same, too: $9.
It's open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday.