“One of the things that we’re trying to do is really deliver the flavors of Chicago and that aspect here to Tucson,” said Mark Hall, co-owner of Lucky’s Chicago Sandwiches.
The shop has been open for less than a year now in Marana at 6741 N. Thornydale Rd. #157, but it’s already becoming a go-to spot for “hardcore” fans of Chicago-inspired cuisine.
And, it’s not luck, despite the name. Mark and his wife, Jane, simply thought the word “Lucky’s” would look great on a sign. “Some people who come in call me Lucky now,” Mark laughed.
From Chicago to Tucson
The sandwich shop on the northwest side of town is all about ingredients, and the Lucky’s team has done their homework when it comes to sourcing it.
“Green River soda is shipped from Chicago. Our sausages are shipped from Chicago. Even our Giardiniera — a lot of our products come from Chicago,” said Mark. “We make some of our sauces. For example, there’s a sauce called Chicago Mild Sauce. It’s a condiment found at the street level with street vendors in a lot of different neighborhoods in Chicago — it’s like ketchup and mustard to us out here in Tucson. So, we’ve found a recipe, perfected it on our side, and now we make it in-house here and we’re introducing people in Tucson.”
Therefore, it’s all about bringing the flavors and traditions of Chicago to the Old Pueblo.
“Our corned beef hash is kind of made the old-school way,” Mark added. “We hand-slice all of our meats! Freshness is key. We cook more often and slice more often. It’s more work for us but at the end of the day, the flavors are there. So, when we say bigger, better, fresher, we mean it!”
Mark and the team at Lucky’s also aim to use locally-made goods when they’re not crafting it themselves. For instance, they gather their bread from La Baguette Parisienne, which is located on Tucson’s east side — a nice 40-minute drive across town.
La Baguette Parisienne’s loaves are used for items like the Spicy Italian Sandwich (a personal favorite of mine).
Behind the scenes in the kitchen, the Lucky’s crew dips the bread in a housemade au jus, which is also used to “finish off the beef.”
“The au jus is what they call the ‘juice’ or the ‘gold’ in Chicago — the ‘gravy,'” said Mark. “It’s my own recipe as well with all the spices and the flavor. That’s where you’re getting all your flavor from.”
Of course, the Chicago Dog is on the menu at Lucky’s, and unlike the previous tenants of the building on Thorndale Road, Markis “charring their dogs.”
“We steam and char our dogs,” he said. “We don’t ‘water dog’ our dogs. ‘Dirty dog’ is what they call it in New York where they leave the in water to cook.”
Chicago Approved
Inside the sandwich shop, there’s a large whiteboard on the wall near the cash register. The whiteboard is cluttered with signatures and notes from customers. There are so many scribbles that it’s nearly completely covered, too.
When asked about the whiteboard, Mark said it’s a form of validation — an approval he seeks from either former Chicago residents now living in Tucson or Chicagoans just visiting Tucson. He asks that they not only sign it but leave their former or current Chicago zip code.
“You have to like what you ate before signing,” Mark said about the whiteboard that’s been on the wall for less than six months. “They come in, they eat, and then they sign. I also tell them that they have to keep it real. If you feel my quality has dipped, or you feel something is off, you need to tell them directly.”
For the Early Birds
Lucky’s is also serving a Chicago-style breakfast and if you get in early enough (before 9 a.m.) snag the $3.99 Breakfast Special.
Two eggs, some toast, and home fries make for a great start to your day.
“This location has had a Chicago sandwich shop in it for quite some time before us but this is where our twist comes in — we’re more of a cafe/deli/sit-down restaurant that also includes breakfast,” said Mark. “We’re taking all of those flavors from a classic, Chicago-style breakfast. For example, we have a Vienna sausage in our Pigs in a Blanket. It’s a half-pound Italian sausage wrapped in a pancake!”
In the end, Lucky’s is all about community and the nostalgia of dining with strangers.
“That’s my biggest thing,” said Mark. “We’re more than what this restaurant was before we moved in. It’s a place to come in and have conversations because conversations are sort of going away in restaurants.”
Stop in soon, order something new or familiar, and strike up a conversation with a stranger anytime between 7:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Saturday, and 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Lucky’s Chicago Sandwiches is located at 6741 N. Thornydale Rd. #157. For more information, follow Lucky’s on Facebook and Instagram or visit luckyschicagocafedeli.com.
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
