The Hub Market & Deli in Gaslamp/East Village Neighborhood of Downtown San Diego

Dropping in at the Hub Market and Deli on 6th Avenue on the border of the Gaslamp Quarter and East Village neighborhood of downtown San Diego, I can't help but marvel at this little mom and pop shop's ability to stand its ground while many bigger businesses in the area come and go like the ocean tides. I had fear for its survival when Longs Drugstore opened just 2 blocks down 6th Avenue in 2006... but 3 years later, Longs Drugstore is gone (swallowed by CVS Pharmacy), but the Hub is still here... as unchanged as you can ever hope for, still run by the same pop and his 3 sons who take turn manning the check out counter. Considering how there seems to be a 7/11 store at every other street corner in downtown now, you've got to love this thoroughly not-chain-store place. It actually has characters all its own!

This little snack food market is bigger inside than it looks. The front of the store is heavily loaded with chips, candies, a cooler of ice-creams in small packages, a newspaper stand (only the local paper, the San Diego Union-Tribune, available) and other snack food, with the cold bottled drinks lining one side of the wall further inside (the other side is occupied by a good selection of local and imported wines). The price is comparable to 7/11 and a few other convenient stores in the area.

At the back of the store is the deli counter that is probably the best kept local secret in downtown. Where else can you find a huge Philly steak sandwich or a 'I'll die young, but happy' pastrami sandwich and a few other deli sandwich creations for only $6 in this part of town? They have a good selection of cold and hot sandwiches for $5-6. There's only one cook back there, though, so if you are in a hurry it is better to call ahead to order for pick up. There isn't any chair inside for you to sit around while waiting for the pig to be slaughtered and the cooked into a ham for that sandwich of yours (just kidding, of course... but the wait time can get rather long here).

The sandwiches are served with a side and a big pickle and your choice of canned soda. The bread is delivered fresh everyday and the meat is supplied by the Boar's Head. I wouldn't say that the food here has anything on City Deli's sandwiches (I couldn't finish even half of those artery-busting things), but you certain get your money's worth here... which is not something that can be said at most other eateries in the area. Pop and his 3 sons may not appear to be the friendliest of foursome in town, but they really are softies at heart (if you're familiar with New York Italians, then you know what I mean). You really aren't dealing with 'professional food retailers' here but with real folks... Sometimes they put on impromptu family drama for you, and that just makes the place a lot more interesting to visit than the other convenient stores around here are.

The only gripe I can offer is that there is no dining area so you'll have to haul the sandwich all the way home to eat (if you drop in on the days that the Padres are out of town, though, you can walk 4 blocks southeast and have a relax lunch at the Petco Park Park nearby).

The Hub Market & Deli (Gaslamp/East Village): 748 6th Ave (between G & F Sts), San Diego, CA 92101. Tel. (619) 239-1918 Hours: 7AM-9PM daily.