Sticklers is about to celebrate 10 years at it's location in the historic J.M. Walker building in downtown Phoenix. It seems a little incongruous that this fine piece of - \"neo-classical greek architecture\", should host a \"mere\" sub shop, in this building that was once slated to be the 6 story local HQ for J.C. Penny. The quality, convenience, cleanliness and comfortable atmosphere of Stickers, coupled with it's continued popularity, success, and legions of loyal customers I think however does the old building proud. They stopped at 2 stories but intended tenant JCP moved in anyway for some years, before it became the APS building, and then occupied by various other tenants over the years. \n\nNow as to the food! I confess am not that huge a fan of subs in general except as economical filler, but I'd have to say that Stickler's has the best I've ever tasted, and that's not damning with faint praise; It's excellent! I've come here only sporadically over the last decade of the nearly dozen years I've worked nearby, but only recently, based on reviews below, was I prompted to try the \"Traffic Jam\", for which I thank all responsible and I concur with the overwhelming majority: it's delicious! Roast turkey, hard salami, honey baked ham and roast beef with swiss. Add a little lettuce & tomato, oil & vinegar, a squirt of mayo, Italian seasoning, and maybe just a very few jalapenos due to the delicate gringo stomach to the soft whole wheat roll, and you've got a filling piece of heaven on wheat. Add a side and a drink and it starts getting a bit expensive for my lunch budget, but as for me, I'm satiated for the rest of the day. Like some of those below, I don't care for those roof-of-the-mouth raking breads either, but though I don't think they make it in house, you couldn't have anything much fresher or softer than the whole wheat sandwich roll (white Kaiser roll - you're on your own!). \n\nSticklers is I think a tad more expensive than Subway on comparable items, and I'm just fine with Subway, but there's no doubt that Stickler's is superior in taste. I met co-owner Murray this past week and asked him what made the difference - what makes their sandwiches that much distinctively better. Without hesitation he answered \"the meat\". And though not an exact quote, he also said \"That $2.99 a pound stuff that you buy from the grocery deli counter? We don't buy that. Our's is more in the $5.99 area, and we slice it thin and layer it. And I've got a great staff down here too, and I have to give thanks to them.\" I liked that. And the tuna, and the Traffic Jam, and the roast beef, and every other sandwich I've tried there over the years.\n\nService is fast and efficient. You order at a walk-up counter on the east side where you can order your soup and sub, or choose a have a fresh salad assembled for you from the myriad offerings on the other side of the glass. Staff does the assembling and at easily $8, it's not a cheap little side salad, but everything looks vibrantly fresh and the whole of downtown is not poking and sneezing in it. Subs are made right out in the open so you can supervise if you want. but after ordering you walk around to the front counter, wait for your sub to come off the toasting rack and then specify what you want on it, order any drinks and sides, and pay. Cash, credit and debit cars are accepted. Would not say \"good for groups\", since no reservations accepted and no separate dining rooms or divisible areas available\n\nIn moderate weather Sticklers offers simple but comfortable plastic chair seating out front under the shade of the building's second story overhang that overlooks the busy streets at 3rd Ave & Washington. There's also moderately shaded seating all along the west side of the building with a view to the front of the adjacent Phoenix Municipal Court building that towers, looms, etc., over Sticker's modest 2-stories. \n\nBins abound to dump your own debris, but staff roams continually at the lunch hour(s) to take care of that left behind. Restrooms are toward the back on the east side and at least the men's room is surprisingly large and includes 3 stalls including handicapped, one urinal, a baby changing station and small counter with sink and mirror. The facility was well stocked with TP, paper towels, and hand soap even right after the big lunch hour, and there was no mess other than a few paper towels on the floor beneath the dispenser, and a bit of water on the counter around the sink. \n\nThe 1-star review that spoke of rude wait staff, unwelcome gratuities, and a bad shrimp & lobster sandwich has been corrected by the author as a mistaken posting (wrong place), which I think leaves but one, 1-star remaining, which gives the establishment 1 star due to a single bad latte. A little harsh, don't you think! But note to the management: Forget lattes. Do what you do well, which you do very well.
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