Tony Luke's readies sandwich shops at Shore, Middle East

Last year, Ray Rastelli Jr. of Rastelli Food Groups, Swedesboro's, signed a deal with Tony Luke's boss Tony Lucidonio Jr. to market Tony Luke's Old Philly Style Sandwiches in supermarkets.

This year, the Lucidonios and the Rastellis have made arrangements to open Tony Luke's Pronto sandwich shops in Deptford, Sicklerville, Wildwood - and Bahrain, in the Middle East, the first of 60 proposed worldwide, serving sliced beef, chicken and lamb per the local tastes. Equipment is being shipped, signs are getting painted.

Word is the Wildwood store will be run by Tony Jr.'s brother Nick, the others by the Tony Luke's - Rastelli partners who rolled out frozen Tony Luke's sandwiches last year.