The Atlantic profiles Super Deli Mart: ‘Postmodern Elks Club’

Thanks to Forest for the tip on this: Readers across America (and likely beyond) who check out The Atlantic‘s website today have the opportunity to read about West Seattle’s Super Deli Mart. The article by Christopher Solomon is headlined “A Postmodern Elks Club Serving Some of the World’s Best Beer” but talks about the 35th/Barton store as a community gathering place as well as a beverage retailer. Read the story here. (Added 1:13 pm – The Atlantic’s story didn’t include a photo of proprietor Min Chung, so we dropped by to get one to add here!)

Sebastian January 5, 2012 (12:02 pm)

Christopher Solomon did a nice write up of the Super Deli Mart. Min does serve some of the best beers in the world. It is amazing how he does it. I wish him success, but also selfishly want to keep our West Seattle local institution a home town secret. Congratulations on your success Min!

Arbor Heights Mom January 5, 2012 (12:11 pm)

This is a great story, thanks for posting!

Marge Evans January 5, 2012 (12:12 pm)

everything they said in the article is true.

monroe1200 January 5, 2012 (12:46 pm)

I love this place! THE BEST cheesy brit sandwiches and the beer! gotta love the beer!

Tbone January 5, 2012 (1:21 pm)

Congrats, Min! What a great business model!

Erich January 5, 2012 (1:42 pm)

Oh, beat me to it! Just came here to find contact info to pass this article along.

JeffA January 5, 2012 (1:48 pm)

SuperDeliMart rocks! Min and his staff are great folks.

MB January 5, 2012 (1:50 pm)

Woot! Congrats to Min!

Lindsey January 5, 2012 (2:06 pm)

I think that’s just awesome. They deserve it!

Jehu January 5, 2012 (2:29 pm)

Great article! We are lucky to have a rare gem like SDM in our neighborhood. Congrats, Min!

Tina Doherty January 5, 2012 (2:56 pm)

This is around the corner from my house and I had no idea – talk about finding hidden treasure right under your nose… I’m SO going to be a regular there, starting tonight after work! :)

Bettytheyeti January 5, 2012 (4:49 pm)

Yes folks, the SuperDeli Mart is the real deal. We West Seattle beer drinkers count our lucky stars to have so rare a business model in our hood. The Atlantic article is spot on.Thanks for the link WSB. The first couple of visits to SDM ARE surreal. But after I secured my first growler of PLINY ever, I snapped out of disbelief.

Deanie Schwarz January 5, 2012 (5:43 pm)

Min is an innovator, a risk taker, an unbelievably hard worker, a great schmoozer, a welcoming neighbor and informative host to all who enter his top notch store. If you haven’t stopped in yet, I highly recommend you get yourselves over there.

Congratulations Min! I knew you had the “right stuff” for something wonderful since my tofu teriyaki/Westwood days. :) Now the world knows. ;)

Enjoy the ride!
Deanie

Bob Loblaw January 5, 2012 (6:02 pm)

I once asked Min how his store came to be what it is. He told me it was nothing special and that, “All the delis on the East Coast are like this.” First off, it IS special. Secondly, I thought briefly of packing up for the East Coast should he ever close.
.
TGFSDM!

Oliver January 6, 2012 (9:09 am)

Congratulation – We love the Super Deli Mart! Sign up for the twitter feed and find out what’s on tap! The wine selection is also good and Min will point out the good deals. You get the 10% discount on 4 bottles rather than 6 like at the big stores.

MB January 6, 2012 (8:04 pm)

My husband and I frequent this place, its nice to get a sandwich with a brew instead of always pizza or burgers. I grew up getting the Cheesey British Hoagies. Husky deli has them beat, but they are still delicious. One thing I have noticed over the past few times we have gone, is the owner treats his employees poorly. Very demanding and I have never heard a please or thank you when yelling demands over customers heads to get his employees attention. In fact, I don’t think I have ever been thanked for coming in and spending $25+ per visit. I have given out many more thank you’s than received, as a customer its nice to be thanked for keeping their business open. Would also be nice to see him appreciating his employees they really work hard and fast and the quality is always the same no matter which sandwich maker is in. Just thought I would point this out and maybe next time I’m in I will notice a change :)

WsEd January 7, 2012 (7:47 am)

I totally agree with you MB. At first I was in favor of his business model. it now appears that he is running a bar without the proper permits. I went by SDM last night to fill up a growler and didn’t make it past the front door. There were about 25 people drinking in the store and a few were hammered. It’s only a matter of time until the liquor control board cracks down on this place and trust me they will.

MB January 8, 2012 (2:37 pm)

It’s unfortunate. I’m sure it’s a matter of time that the above will happen, and there will be some drunk brawl out in the parking lot. I would be bummed if they shut down the sandwich making, but it can’t be too impossible to mimic.. someone around here must have the secret recipe! ;)

sam-c January 11, 2012 (1:49 pm)

saw in the Seattle times mini-feature on the cover of the ‘NW Wednesday’ section that they are having dogfish head tastings. yum ! :)
and like the article says, bring a designated driver. that stuff is strong. (and good)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/restaurants/2017203127_happyhour11.html

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