This April Fool’s Day joke was definitely not “a sub above.”
The iconic Millburn Deli startled longtime fans on Sunday — the last day of March — when the restaurant owners posted to Facebook that they were selling the beloved shop to the Jersey Mike’s chain.
The deli staff deleted the original post later on Sunday and added a second post clarifying it was just an early April Fool’s joke. The deli playfully acknowledged having made some customers very “hangry.”
“Thanks for the love and for being good sports (especially you Jersey Mikes — much love neighbor). P.S. We know April Fools is tomorrow — you caught us, but we got you good. We love you!” the deli’s March 31 post said.
Not everyone was amused, with Facebook comments on the post calling it a “mean prank” and an “epic fail” that caused “a collective heart attack” among the deli’s fans.
At least one commenter offered support, saying the joke was “well-played.”
The Millburn Deli, which has locations in Millburn, Morristown, Westfield and Montclair, is among the state’s most popular delis. It dates back to 1946 and is beloved for its fan-favorite Sloppy Joe sandwich.
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Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com.