APRIL 14, 2025 UPDATE: Gatz Deli announced their closure via an Instagram Story post on Monday night.
“GATZ DELI ANNOUNCEMENT:
We will no longer be open for business. Thank you so much to our customers and supporters this past year! It was undoubtedly a challenging project, but also a rewarding one in so many ways. With more time we may have found success in foodservice, but truthfully we are better off focusing on content that appeals to our audiences. Lastly, we need to thank our coworker, Guy. It was a privilege working with you and thank you for everything!
Stay tuned for our next endeavor!
-Sean and Lamar”
MARCH 28, 2025 — When visiting the website for Gatz Deli, scroll past spicy premium content links to find the sandwich menus. Why do they coexist?
Co-owner and chef Sean Gatz didn’t earn his 3.3 million TikTok followers for sandwiches. There, he shares DIY projects and personal anecdotes. His premium content serves as an additional income stream.
While social media pays the bills, Gatz missed interacting with customers.
“Back in New Jersey, I spent most of my twenties in full-service restaurants and catering, working my way up to sous and banquet chef positions,” Gatz said. “However, I always preferred the counter service of the deli and pizzerias I worked at rather than being hidden away in the kitchen. I love a good deli sub, but the customer interactions is also a big reason I was drawn to start a food truck and get back into the restaurant world.”
He opened Gatz Deli with his fiancée, Lamar Chairez — she also creates spicy premium content. While Gatz leads the kitchen, Chairez carried most of the financial responsibility opening the business. However, she also still works on the kitchen line for fun.
Since Gatz’ focus has been on mainstream content creation, he saw the potential in live-streaming their business startup as a look behind the scenes for his social media followers.
“Everyday we open, we are streaming to YouTube and occasionally TikTok as well,” Gatz said. “Viewers get to see the banter between the three of us and the daily challenges of the kitchen. Often times, social media and television portrays the culinary world as a glamorous art form, and although that’s true at times, the kitchen is an extremely tough place to make a living. I find all the challenges and hardships of the food truck to be a fun thing to document on video.”
The livestreams also feature a “pay it forward” program, where viewers can buy a sandwich in real time for a stranger.
“Last weekend, our viewers paid for over 30 sandwiches and subs that we gave out at Santa Rita Park and an additional $400 worth of food to our customers at the window,” Gatz said.
Although Gatz’ online reputation helped gather online attention to Gatz Deli, the local Tucson crowd hasn’t quite caught on yet. Without context, Gatz Deli just looks like a white food trailer with customer signatures scribbled along the outside. Parked outside of Voltron Brewing Company and surrounded by industrial warehouses, most people won’t discover it by accident.
The menu itself also appears simple enough at first glance. Food options include deli sandwiches, loaded tots, potato salad, chips, Dr. Brown’s sodas, and an ice cream float.
However, pay attention to the little details to discover the depth.
Sandwiches feature locally-baked bread (except for the Kaiser rolls). The hot sauce selection carries a wide variety of choices from Tucson-based High Desert Sauce Co.
The Bourdain pays homage to Anthony Bourdain and his iconic sandwich. Unwrap it to reveal a piping hot Kaiser roll filled with lightly crispy fried mortadella swimming in melted provolone, and a smear of mayonnaise and mustard to cut through the richness.
Breakfast sandwiches feature egg and cheese with a choice of protein on a Kaiser roll. However, people from New Jersey may recognize their ubiquitous Taylor Ham as an option. Like Spam, it is a processed pork product. However, it requires refrigeration and has a firmer texture — more like Canadian bacon and less like soft ham.
The Italian sub contains a uniform distribution of salami, prosciutto, mortadella, lettuce, tomato, onion, banana peppers, mayonnaise, herbs, oil, and vinegar on a locally made baguette, neatly wrapped and contained in deli paper.
Gatz Deli is located at 330 S. Toole Ave. #200. Hours can vary; visit gatz.co for more information.
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Article written by:
Jackie Tran
More about JackieJackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the now-closed food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon Appétit, National Geographic, and the New York Times.
An adventurous foodie, he enjoys culinary experiences ranging from seasonal omakase to sloppily devouring green chili patty melts in his car afterhours. His favorite foods include aguachile, garlic noodles, and leftover fried chicken illuminated by the fridge light. His favorite drinks include morning micheladas, fireside imperial stouts, candle-lit negroni, and grassy mezcales.
Outside of food, he also loves playing musical instruments, karaoke, Tetris, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and petting Addie’s dog Spaghetti.
If you’d like to stalk him, visit his Instagram @jackie_tran_ or jackietran.com.
