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Coupla Nice Guys Bring Luckys' Overstuffed Sandwiches to Milwaukee Avenue

By Alisa Hauser | December 29, 2012 8:35am

WICKER PARK — Lucky's Sandwich Company, a popular Wrigleyville restaurant and bar that expanded to University Village last year and specializes in overstuffed sandwiches, plans to open its third location Tuesday in Wicker Park.

Owners Joe DeRosa, 35, and Jon Donnelly, 41, met 13 years ago while working at a Lincoln Park tavern — Donnelly as manager and DeRosa as bartender.

On Wednesday the men were busy installing flat-screen TVs at Lucky's Wicker Park outpost at 1635 N. Milwaukee Ave., most recently home to Plan B Bar and Kitchen, just north of the busy Milwaukee-Damen-North intersection.

"We have the same philosophy [on running a bar and restaurant]. It's not rocket science. You've just gotta be a nice guy," DeRosa said.

 Jon Donnelly, left, and Joe DeRosa met 13 years ago when they were working together at a tavern in Lincoln Park.  On Tuesday, Jan. 1, Donnelly and DeRosa plan to open Lucky's Sandwich Company's third location at 1635 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Wicker Park.
Jon Donnelly, left, and Joe DeRosa met 13 years ago when they were working together at a tavern in Lincoln Park.  On Tuesday, Jan. 1, Donnelly and DeRosa plan to open Lucky's Sandwich Company's third location at 1635 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Wicker Park.
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DNAinfo/Alisa Hauser

For fans of simplicity, Lucky's makes things easy for check-splitting customers by having a standard $7.50 price for nearly all 18 sandwiches on their chalkboard menu, save for an $8.50 skirt steak sandwich.

All sandwiches are served Pittsburgh-style, which means that sides like oil and vinegar tossed coleslaw and french fries are crammed between the white Italian bread loaf.

The sandwiches are so huge that Lucky's promises to honor anyone who can eat three in an hour (without barfing; it's in the rules) with a framed photo on their "Wall of Fame."

Donnelly said his favorite sandwich is "either the Two-Bagger or the Fredo."

Inspired by a baseball term for a double, the Two-Bagger contains roast beef and pastrami, while the Fredo, which pays homage to a character in the 1972 epic film "The Godfather," is piled with ham, salami, capicola and melted Swiss cheese. 

In addition to sandwiches, Lucky's serves chicken tenders and wings, complemented by 12 varieties of house sauces including a house-made "OMG!" sauce, named for its super spiciness.

The new restaurant includes six flat-screen TVs and shuffleboard and darts. To wash everything down, there'll be domestic beers in bottles and cans and eight craft brews rotating on draft.

Opening brews for January include Breckenridge's Oatmeal stout and Domaine DuPage from Two Brothers, DeRosa said.

At Lucky's Wrigleyville location, at 3472 N. Clark St., Matt Gumm, 23, an insurance consultant, had devoured half of his Two-Bagger and was contemplating whether or not to finish the second half or 'bag' it for leftovers.

"It's really good, the meat, the fries, the coleslaw. It's kind of awesome that it's all together like this," Gumm said Thursday. 

Lucky's Sandwich Company's Wicker Park hours are 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.