Hometown Hero
By Kathy Highcove

We paused in the North Valley mall parking lot and scanned the store fronts until we found the right sign: My Hero Sub Sandwiches. As we walked toward the front door a woman rushed past and entered ahead of us. We followed her lead. Inside, the place was hopping: contractors, students, retirees, business people, a varied assortment of Valley residents devoured their lunch. The air was fragrant with the aroma of Italian spices, and several workers sliced meat and vegetables behind the glass counter.

Denise Mitchell, proprietor of My Hero, greeted the woman, "Welcome back Jeanie. I remember your favorite sandwich. It's coming right up." Mitchell and her helpers speedily put together a meatball hero. The woman smiled as she left with her carry-out order efficiently packed in a paper bag.

The eat-in customers were seated on stools at a counter that stretched down a long wall. At one end of the room small groups sat at round tables and conversed while they enjoyed their sub sandwiches. Photos of local teams, youth groups, parties, newspaper articles and horses are framed and hung on the walls. Horses? Yes, the original owners bred race horses, we were told. "Our long-time customers like to see those old familiar photos when they return. And they give the place a homey atmosphere," Mitchell confided.

My Hero Sandwich Shop is obviously more than an impersonal sandwich pick-up place. For over forty years, this establishment has been a popular gathering place for the North Valley resident

The restaurant was first opened in 1964 by Howard and Elizabeth Kuebler, who built up a loyal customer base. The Kueblers maintained the sandwich shop well into their retirement years. When the time came to selltheir cherished enterprise, they looked for a buyer who would follow their popular recipes, and maintain their products' quality. The right buyer was already on the premises. The Kueblers happily sold the shop to long-time employee Rose Vargas, her daughter Denise and son-in-law Michael Mitchell.

"Mom rarely took a day off when she worked for the Kueblers," Mitchell said, but as co-owner, with efficient partners, Rose can step back and take an occasional day off. Denise and Michael Mitchell have gained a business with flexible hours that gives them time to spend with their two teenagers. It's a win/win situation for management at the Our Hero Sandwich Shop.

The menu contains both the old favorites introduced by the original owners, and a few items that have been added by the new team. Many patrons fancy a My Hero Special (Genoa Salami, Salami Cotto, Bologna, Mortadella and Provolone cheese) or choose from a range of meats and combinations of ingredients. Several side dishes enhance the entrees, and party platters are available. Subs are priced moderately: $4.15 to $7.10.
"Our Hero subs are very different sandwiches than the sub chain down the street," said Mitchell. "We use fresh produce. Every morning we chop 50 lbs. of tomatoes for our special tomato relish. We bring in soft rolls from a local bakery. Our meat comes from a supplier every week, not once a month as in the more conventional shops. We welcome people to our shop as if we welcome them into our home." And with that assurance, Mitchell greeted several newly arrived customers by name.

Assurances aside, we gave the cuisine our private taste test. My companion and I ordered the My Hero Special and the Breast of Turkey Hero. Both sandwiches were served with meat, cheeses, lettuce, sliced pickles and a savory tomato relish. The relish, a recipe created by Elizabeth Kuebler, made a culinary difference. The tangy diced vegetable subtly complemented the traditional ingredients and the soft rolls of our sub hero sandwiches.

Not a crumb remained when we concluded our very thorough sampling session. Perhaps next time we'll get in line for a pastrami, or pepper beef, corned beef, meatball, tuna or chicken breast sandwich. So many heroes, so little time!

If you're in the neighborhood of Plummer and Reseda, and feeling hunger pains, drop in on Rose and Denise in the My Hero Sandwich Shop, and they'll treat you like family!

My Hero Sub Sandwich Shop
Phone: (818)349-4255
www.myherosub.com
Hours: Monday to Saturday:
9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
9514 Reseda Boulevard
Northridge (Plummer at
Reseda)