For the last 20 years, one Baton Rouge business has continually provided its customers with groceries, snacks, household items and sandwiches.
American Market Groceries and Deli on Nicholson Drive, which is only a few miles south of the University’s campus, opened in 1984 and is still a thriving local business.
The deli is a very popular place that many students know about and visit often.
Although the store sells groceries, wine and liquor and snacks, it is best known for its sandwiches.
Hamid Khalili is originally from Iran and has been working at Am Mart since its opening.
“People come here for the good, fresh sandwiches and the quick, friendly service,” Khalili said. “I call the sandwich section the heart of the store.”
The most popular sandwich is the Cajun turkey with pepper-jack cheese, Khalili said. Others also are popular, though.
Khalili said the store sells approximately 350 sandwiches per day.
One secret to the store’s success is the friendly service all customers receive when they visit the store, said Am Mart employee Andy Toranian.
“The quality of our sandwiches and our customer relationships are what is most important,” Toranian said. “You have to go out of your way for your customers — we do that.”
Khalili said he agreed that the friendly service is one of the main reasons the store is so successful.
“When you do something for someone and you can remember them and call them by name, it makes them feel special,” Khalili said. “You can get to know them and know what they like.”
Khalili told a story about a visit to California when an LSU graduate came up to him and said “you make the best sandwiches.”
The secret to the sandwiches is the freshness of everything used, Khalili said. The meat, cheese, bread, vegetables and all other ingredients are prepared fresh daily.
Most customers visit the deli frequently. Some buy sandwiches as many as two or three times per week.
“I am a real frequent customer — I come by at least once a week,” said Rachel Hoover, a sociology junior. “Their food is just so fresh and good, and the service is excellent.”
Khalili said although the University is very important to the success of their business, customers range from young to old, student to retiree and include people of all races and ethnicities.
“LSU is important to us because that is where a lot of the traffic comes from,” Khalili said. “But, there is definitely a mixed group of people who visit our store.”
He said even when students are out of school, the deli still does good business.
Jonathan Blazek, a second-year law student, said he has not visited the store very many times, but the sandwiches are great and the service is always quick and friendly.
Since the University is located so close to the Am Mart and many students visit the store, the owners have decorated the store in some LSU paraphernalia including pictures of players, newspaper clippings, flags, posters and a LSU football which is signed by former as well as current players.
“Any time a player comes in, we get them to sign something,” Khalili said. “As you can see, we have a lot of players come in.”
Rodney Reed, a graduate student and captain for the 2003 LSU football team, said he eats at the Am Mart about two times per week.
“It is good food at a decent price and it is pretty quick and convenient,” Reed said.
Khalili joked with Reed about how their sandwiches is the reason he plays such good football.
Khalili also said he can remember when Shaquille O’neal used to come in the store and order extra big po-boys.
“Shaq would come in and ask for a big sandwich,” Khalili said. “I told him I could just make him two, but he wanted one huge one.”