Growing the ‘Cult’ of Philly Cheesesteak

Of course, Tony Luke Jr. was apprehensive about bringing “The Real Taste of South Philly” to the Middle East, but his fears were quickly allayed.

“I was intrigued by the Middle East, but I was apprehensive because I didn’t know if cheesesteak would go over,” the CEO of Tony Luke’s Worldwide told Modern Restaurant Management magazine. “People love comfort food and the expansion has provided some of the greatest moments in my life.”

Tony Luke Jr.One of those special moments, he said, was connecting with children just after opening in Bahrain over the love of food, in particular a really good meat sandwich.

Still, operating a business in a foreign land can be a logistical nightmare, he noted.  

“It’s not like they’re around the corner. It’s 29 hours from when I leave the house making it all about finding the right people to manage.”

It’s not just the sandwich, but the culture.

The brand, which features a menu of Philadelphia favorites in addition to…