Jerry's Broad Street Deli: 'Home of the Loaded'

Jerry Witczak had to know it would come to this - owning his own deli, in the town in which he grew up.

Except for a brief nine-year hiatus in neighboring Nutley, Witczak, who grew up on Berkeley Place in Bloomfield’s south end, has and always will be a Bloomfielder.

“I always had it in me,” he said of deli ownership, and has his special stamp on it.

Just enter and check out his wall opposite the counter lined with Pittsburgh Steelers memorabilia. A plaque and poster dedicated to Hall-of Famers, quarterback Terry Bradshaw, a poster-sized photo of running back Franco Harris, an autographed picture of current coach Mike Tomlin, and a shot of Witczak and his family at Heinz Field.

A frontrunner? A Steeler fan in Giants and Jets land? What gives?

”I’ve been a fan since 1972, ever since the ‘Immaculate Reception,'” Witczak said, calling to mind the historic pass play between the before mentioned Bradshaw and Harris executed in the 1972 AFC Championship game with 30 seconds left, propelling the Steelers to a 7-6 victory over the Oakland Raiders.

Witczak has had a career in deli work. While a student at Bloomfield from '77-'80, he worked at the popular Center Liquor and Deli in Bloomfield center, doing everything from carrying boxes of supplies up and down the cellar stairs and then stocking shelves, to making sandwiches that many of his high school friends would walk from the school for. He stayed there until marriage and children beckoned, and then secured a job with Airborne for 14 years to garner benefits for his family.

In 2002, his wife got sick and, as he cared for her, he looked after children Jerry, Joey and Joelle, as well. When she sadly passed in 2004, he left Airborne to raise his children while he “kept busy with side jobs.”

But deli work was always in his blood - always.

“A friend of mine at the time bought Monster Subs (on Broad Street), and I worked there from 10-2 (o'clock) while my kids were in school," said Witczak.

Soon he was ready for his own spot, and after looking at vacant locations on Broad Street, he settled right next to the Glen Ridge Country Club Golf Course in June 2007.

“We’re really busy from April to October,” Witczak said, those months coinciding with golf season.

Any time is a great time to visit Jerry’s Brad Street Deli, open seven days a week. The deli is the “Home of the Loaded,” which, according to Witczak, “is like taking a whole sub and flipping it on a half.” The “Loaded” is a double-meat sandwich which you can have with a single meat or a combination. The cheese steak burger with peppers and onions is another deli speciality. There are daily breakfast and lunch specials, daily $5 subs (on rainy and bad weather days, purchase of a sandwich gets you a second – of equal or less value only – at 50 percent off) and deli meats available by the pound.

“These are quality meats,” said Witczak, who serves Boars Head and other prime brands.

Witczak also offers party platters, sympathy platters, 3- to 6-inch subs, sandwich platters and cold cut trays, wraps trays, to name a few. There’s even - get this - Jerry’s Broad Street Deli’s very own bottled soda in various flavors. You can have your order to go, or enjoy it at the one of three tables the Witczak and crew – his children, and wife Angelica, whom he married in 2006 – provide.

Jerry’s Broad Street Deli also is a supporter of the local community. In the past, he has supported the Bloomfield High School girls’ softball team and also lends a hand with the Glen Ridge High School boosters.

Be prepared to become friends with Witczak and his friendly staff, and put on your trivia cap. Every day, Witczak on his Facebook page and in his deli, posts a trivia question related to television shows or the world of sports. Answer it correctly, and get a free bag of chips with lunch.

Jerry's Broad Street Deli
872 Broad St.
973-748-1433
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sun. 9 a.m.-2 p.m.