>> dining in the d

Ernie's Market

T

There's the boat Ernie made for a class
he "Best Sandwich Shop"
project and a mounted sailfish caught
in Metro Detroit is inside a
by his mother in 1958. The oldest item
modest brown brick building
is a bottle-capper contraption used by
at the corner of Capital and Republic
winemakers.
in Oak Park. And that's for five years
At eye level are toilet tissue rolls,
running, according to a local television paper towels, chips, pop and buns —
station's online voters' poll.
items with a connection to
Though I became aware
the main event — Ernie's
of Ernie's Market only
amazing deli sandwiches.
last spring, it's literally an
The owner's day begins at
institution for people living
6:30 a.m., purchasing veg-
or working in southeast-
etables from local wholesal-
ern Oak Park or across
ers. Employees Cheri and
the city limit in Ferndale.
Joann help with chopping
Customers dig the place not
tomatoes, cucumbers,
only for its freshly made
onions, green peppers and
deli sandwiches at bargain
even green apples for veg-
prices, but for charismatic
etarian sandwiches, or for
owner Ernie Hassan him-
adding to the others.
self.
"Everything is fresh and
Where else is ordering a
nice," Ernie said.
sandwich this much fun?
Each sandwich is custom-crafted.
"Who loves you, baby?" is the fre-
There is no menu, just as there is no
quent refrain of the lively, unpreten-
outside sign advertising the sandwich-
tious gent stationed behind the deli
es. Customers pick out the ingredients
counter. When the customer naturally
they want from anything Ernie has on
answers, "Ernie," he replies with a
hand that day. Bread comes from "a
chuckle, "That's right, baby!" He might guy who lives up the road" — white,
even throw in a fist bump.
wheat, rye or a wonderful onion roll.
As Ernie greets and jokes with cus-
Ernie deftly feeds refrigerated blocks
tomers, his booming voice and lots of
of meat and cheese through his trusty
laughter fill up the place. The merri-
Hobart slicer to create thin, perfect
ment helps so that "when you leave
slices. Nothing is pre-sliced. Ernie uses
`Ernie's World, you can take things
up one block of cheese before starting
better on the out-
another.
side he said.
Piled high with layers of meat,
Ernie likes
cheese, veggies and a choice of condi-
surprising his
ments, the sandwiches are $3, $4 or
newbies. He tells
gargantuan at $5. He can go even larger.
them: "Are you
Customers in the know order their
ready? Are you
sandwich "with a little love." Ernie's
sure? Look out,
secret love spice mixture is legend-
baby!" and into an ary. He claims one man who asked for
Ernie Hassan
open palm comes
"heavy love" unexpectedly ended up
a clump of foil-
fathering twins.
wrapped chocolate kisses.
"Now he gets his sandwiches plain
Although Ernie really does seem
— doesn't want any more kids," said
to remember his customers, he says
Ernie.
calling everyone "Baby" covers the
My recent sandwich, composed of
embarrassment of using the wrong
smoked turkey and lots more, was
name. "Hey, Baby!" and the WDIV
simply delicious. Containing all my
Vote4TheBest logo adorn the Ernie's
preferred fixings made this possibly
Market T-shirts he sells, a different
the best cold sandwich I ever ate. Ernie
color for each year he's won.
can make your favorite sandwich —
Ernie's parents, Ernie and Virginia,
and make you smile too — starting 10
started the market in 1950. Young
a.m. daily except Sunday. Phone orders
Ernie started helping five years later,
are also accepted.
riding the Wyoming bus from Detroit's
McKenzie High School. He earned
a business management degree at
University of Detroit and worked from
ERNIE'S MARKET
1960-68 for Chrysler Tool and Die. It's
8500 Capital
been sandwiches ever since for him.
Oak Park, MI 48237
Time stands still upon entering the
(248) 541-9703
room, where high shelves display all
$ out of $$$$$
manner of nostalgic and antique items.

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October 4 • 2012

Ml

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