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On Wednesday, July 18, 2012, Chompie’s, Arizona’s New York Deli Since 1979, will host their 3rd Annual Customer Appreciation Ultimate Slider Celebration, offering customers Jewish Sliders™ (normally $3.99 each) for just $.99 each from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (or while supplies last) to thank them for their support over the past 33 years Chompie’s has enjoyed their patronage.
The annual event was born on July 14, 2010 to celebrate the premiere TV broadcast of Chompie’s Ultimate Slider Challenge on Travel Channel’s Man v. Food season 3 “Phoenix” episode, featuring host Adam Richman attempting the Challenge. That day, Chompie’s four locations in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe and Chandler sold more than 7,600 $.99 Jewish Sliders combined. At one point, the crowd waiting to get into Chompie’s Tempe, where Man v. Food was filmed, filled the lobby and wrapped around the building. The following summer’s Ultimate Slider Celebration proved to be even more popular with customers, a.k.a. “Chompers”, who enjoyed over 8,650 $.99 Jewish Sliders on July 20, 2011.
The Ultimate Slider Challenge was conceived in late 2009, when, as big fans of Travel Channel’s Man v. Food, Chompie’s owners, the Borenstein family, thought, if anybody is known for huge portions, it’s us. Shortly thereafter, in early 2010, Chompie’s put the Challenge on the menu. It consists of a platter filled with twelve original Jewish Sliders and a mound of onion strings, totaling 5 pounds of food, which a challenger must finish within 30 minutes. Winners are awarded a free Ultimate Slider Challenge t-shirt, a coveted spot on Chompie’s Wall of Fame and the meal free.
Within a few months of its introduction, Travel Channel’s Man v. Food producers happened across Chompie’s Ultimate Slider Challenge online and called to say the show’s host, Adam Richman, wanted visit Chompie’s to give the challenge a try. The rest is Jewish Slider history. “When we first put it on our menu, we just thought the challenge would be fun for our customers,” says co-owner, Wendy Borenstein-Tucker, who enjoys seeing the astonished look on customers’ faces when the gargantuan platter is set before a challenger. “We dreamed, of course, but we never expected it would actually be on national TV! We knew our customers would be thrilled too, so we held a celebration that included them–our first Ultimate Slider Celebration.” Chompie’s Man v. Food episode, featuring Adam’s Ultimate Slider Challenge, was filmed at Chompie’s Tempe location on March 18, 2010. When the show premiered, no one had yet succeeded in winning the Challenge, including Adam. To-date, only 9 people have succeeded out of nearly 200 attempts.
The popularity of Chompie’s famous Jewish Slider continues to grow. “It’s amazing what a not-so-little sandwich can do,” says Wendy. “It makes people happy and brings people together. That’s what Chompie’s has always been about.”
Chompie’s original Jewish Slider consists of a mini-challah roll filled with moist lean beef brisket, Jack cheese, a crispy homemade potato pancake and brown gravy. Chompie’s N.Y. style delicatessen, restaurant, bagel factory, bakery, and caterer, has served the Valley since 1979 with mouthwatering breakfast-all-day, lunch, and dinner 7-days a week. Chompie’s four restaurants in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe and Chandler are individually owned and operated. For more information, visit www.chompies.com.
