Pennsylvanians pride themselves on knowing what constitutes a good hoagie, as opposed to what can be described as “sub” par.
For instance, recently, I was speaking to a young teen who learned the cruel ways of the world when she ordered a hoagie while traveling with her family out west.
“They put bell peppers on it,” she explained incredulously.
One person who knows how to make a Pennsylvania-pleasing hoagie is Mark Millek, who operates Hefty Lefty’s in York’s Central Market.
Millek boasts a solid sandwich pedigree. He and his dad served hoagies some 25 years ago at the Morningstar Marketplace in Thomasville, later opening a storefront in Hanover. He also managed a McDonald’s for a while and worked as a manager at Giant Foods for two decades.
Despite success in the traditional food business, Millek couldn’t get subs off his mind. So, a few years ago, he felt ready to get back into the hoagie-making business, opening a location in York’s Central Market and naming it Hefty Lefty’s.
For the record, Millek is neither hefty, nor a lefty, but thought it would be a fun name for his business.
“I never had a nickname growing up, so that would be my nickname if I chose it,” he said, with a laugh.
Millek said that his affinity for submarine sandwiches dates back to when he was a child.
“My parents were from Reading, and they grew up in the city,” he said. “So, when we visited my grandparents, there were lots of mom-and-pop hoagie shops there.”
Millek opened Hefty Lefty’s in 2018, encountering some fits and starts before hitting his stride. One of those fits was securing a high-quality, reliable roll supplier, a must for any good sub shop.
“I started out with bread from Reading and, one day, they said they were no longer delivering to York,” he said. “Then I found someone who delivered rolls from Conshohocken and, suddenly, he stopped delivering bread.”
After some scrambling about, Millek discovered New Jersey-based Liscio’s Italian Bakery, which has been his supplier since. The bread is delivered fresh every day and contains no preservatives, he said. To create a proper sub, Millek then stuffs in all the goodies: veggies, cheeses, toppings and, of course, deli meats, which come from The Marketplace at John Gross in Mechanicsburg.
“It took off and, in a few years, I was able to quit Giant to focus on the business,” he said.
Mark Millek
Secret Is Out
Some people are very serious about their subs. If you have any doubt, just pull up the Facebook group, Hoagie Gurus, which has over 150,000 members.
When people started posting pictures of Hefty Lefty’s sandwiches, Millek saw a spike in business, with one person reportedly flying in via private plane from Pittsburgh to the market to indulge.
Others, Millek said, have driven for miles to get their hands on a “Balboa,” which contains capicola, cooked salami, Genoa salami, provolone cheese, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano and sea salt, or a “Philly Special” containing capicola, Genoa salami, sharp provolone cheese, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano and sea salt.
Visitors to the Hoagie Guru site should be forewarned, however. Members of the group tend to have little patience for those who post an anemic-looking hoagie, or, God forbid, one with non-standard ingredients.
Zack Zielinski is a member of the group who lives in York and reports that his favorite sandwich is the Balboa, or the classic cheesesteak.
“I love the people behind the counter and the quality of ingredients,” he said. “You can’t find better in the area and, now that the secret is out, everyone wants a piece.”
Ben Steelman is a Richmond, Va., native who learned of Hefty Lefty’s from the Hoagie Gurus group.
“When I visit the area for work, I enjoy the Philly Special, the Lefty Way—with extra ingredients,” he said. “They’re up there with the best hoagies I’ve had, and I’ve had quite a few in Philly and Delco.”
About once a month, Millek offers a specialty sandwich, such as the Thanksgiving Day grinder.
“My father-in-law makes the best stuffing on earth, and we add it to the roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and a little cranberry sauce,” he said. “One lady told us that it’s the best thing she’s eaten in her entire life.”
For his part, Millek said that he’s found his calling in life.
“I was listening to [investor and author] Tim Ferriss recently and he said to find what you love and you can do that the rest of your life,” he said. “It’s not work for me. I love every second of it.”
Hefty Lefty’s is located in the York Central Market, 34 W. Philadelphia St., York. For more information, visit www.heftyleftys.com.
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