This article was originally posted on Aug. 12, 2023.

With stacked hot pastrami, spicy brown mustard, a grilled split knockwurst and melted, gooey Swiss cheese all packed between two toasted, buttery rye slices, the sailor sandwich has become a fan favorite for generations.

It’s a legacy that transcends across city and state lines with numerous restaurants offering up the classic creation.

While there are countless cooks slinging the sandwiches every day, its origin story can be traced back to Richmond’s own New York Deli.

“The best sandwiches in town. Often copied — never equaled,” the New York Deli stated in an advertisement placed in the Wednesday, Oct. 8, 1958, edition of The Times-Dispatch.

By the start of World War II, the New York Deli, 2920 W. Cary St., had been serving

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