Antonelli’s

Yes, I had two Italian hoagies from two different places today! SO what? It’s the land of the free, brother! *flexes muscles* And whatcha gonna do?
*ahem*
Ok, the shifty Cumps (pronounced ‘koomps’) is dead, and Antonelli’s has thankfully taken its spot. I had feared for some reason that only the name had changed, but no, it’s a new owner and all.
And they have a pinball machine!
And a little kid running around throwin’ those Whipper Snappers! Y’know, those things full of salt and gunpowder thatcha throw on the ground? They pop!
I was on my way to work without a lunch.
I call. No answer. Busy signal.
I call again. No answer. Busy signal.
I call again, en route to work. I’m getting closer. Shit! The phone’s ringing. No answer!
I really don’t wanna go to Wendy’s. Subway is also outta the question.
Cue the action movie music.
Finally I get through! I order two plain cuts of pizza and a hoagie with the works.
«Aw man, it’s gonna be 45 minutes. We’re swamped!»
I’m in the middle of a thriller diller here. I cannot be late for work!
I get there and two husky, red-​faced, sweatin’ guys are running the show. I tell ‘em who I am.
«How about just a hoagie? We can do that for ya fast.»
«Ok,» I sez.
«Damn that pizza looks good,» I mention. And it was a head-​turner fer sure.
«It tastes even better.»
«Now I have a reason to come back.»
They laugh heartily.
«This kid’s ok,» they proclaim.
«The food must be good,» I surmised to myself. These guys were workin’ like the workin’ man do.
At 11:40 A.M. my hoagie’s ready. At 11:45 I am dropped off at work by my real-​life Alfred Pennyworth analogue.
I devour my Grinder… lookin’ for meat… Grinder…wants you to eat.
Judas Priest song, sorry.
It’s much meatier and miles more generous than Cump’s was. It had the works, mayo AND dressing, and pleased my stomach. I devoured it as I thanked the Gods for my rock ‘n’ roll schedule. And I still started my noontime shift… on time. It’s almost been 6 years, and I ain’t never been late or called off yet. Mr. Crowley can’t catch me.
Ya can’t manage this type of derring-​do working banker’s hours.
So yeah, Antonelli’s is good stuff. Hopefully I’ll get to try their pizza soon, and, hopefully, they’ll hire some more help. These cats were in the weeds, man. If I didn’t have to report to work, I’d a went back dere ‘n helped ‘em aht ‘n ‘at yknow? Dem guys were gettin’ slammed! That’s always a sign of quality food. Hey, word gets out, especially in L-​Ville. Dem people don’t miss a trick.