Five years ago, Brian "Tat" Tatman (who grew up outside of Philadelphia) and his buddy Jason Simondejka (who hails from South Jersey) opened their Philly-style steak and hoagie shop, Tat's Delicatessen, at 115 Occidental Ave. S. in Pioneer Square. It didn't take long before word got out about their sandwiches. Their 15 tables filled. Lines formed. As did opinions about which was the better -- Tat's cheesesteak wit Whiz or the best-selling Tat'strami piled with pastrami, melted Swiss, sweet coleslaw and Russian dressing.

Simondejka has since moved Back East, their pal Mike Sichel (who's been around from the get-go) has taken on an ownership role, and the pair recently announced that they, too, are on the move: to a far more spacious 50-seat spot around the corner from the original. June 4 is the latest target-date for their move to 159 Yesler Way, where the crew will soon be chopping steak, frying onions, shouting "hot or sweet peppers?" serving beer and wine and asking, "Whiz? Provolone, American, Swiss, Cheddar, Pepper Jack or Mozz?" (Whiz? Cue the canned laughter, says this Philly girl!)

Owners Mike Sichel (far left) and Brian Tatman (in ball cap, standing third from right) with their crew at Tat's Delicatessen, soon to be on the move. [photo courtesy Tat's].

Tat told me it's been a long while since he threw over our hometown-favorite, Amoroso's (whose rolls he'd shipped in par-baked) and talked a local supplier into baking Italian-style rolls to his specifications ("We added cornmeal to give it that Italian texture"). Now with the new store, he's throwing-over Philly-branded Dietz & Watson corned beef and pastrami in favor of Tat's own product, brining and smoking the brisket in-house.

Here's the Deitz & Watson-ized Tat'strami -- soon to be replaced with the house-smoked version. Can't wait to try that one! [photo courtesty Tat's Delicatessen].

Customers who've taste-tested the new Tat's-brand beef have loved it, he said. "It's incredible. It's going to be huge." His hope is that the housemade version appeals to the New York corned beef- and pastrami-crowd. "And if there's any crowd tougher than a Philly crowd, it's a New York crowd." Don't I know it. Just last week I was singing the praises of a "real hoagie" in this post: giving props to the one I made a special pit-stop for on my way to my Aunt Rose's house in Cape May, N.J.

Funnily enough, when I asked Tat which of the two dozen steaks 'n "subs" he prefers (the latter is a moniker employed here in Pioneer Square -- though it's unlikely you'll hear it in Philly or South Jersey), he sang the praises of the "Tat's Italian" made with capicolla, pepper-ham, Genoa salami, provolone and hot and sweet cherry-peppers. "I can put it in the fridge and eat it for days and it still tastes good, because the flavors meld." Which, by the way, is a sign of a great hoagie. I did the same in Cape May with my Italian classic. Half for dinner one day, half for lunch the next.

But perhaps the biggest story here is that unlike other businesses that are flying the coop, Tat and his partner have chosen to stay in Pioneer Square. "I've always had an eye out for this area, though it can be a little rough around the edges," he said. ""I like the neighborhood feel, the King Street business, the access to the financial district. It's a beautiful area and it has a lot of historic meaning."

That historic feel, he said, is something he was looking for after moving to Seattle from Pennsylvania in 1994 with a cohort of his Penn State pals: a group that now numbers several-dozen, many of whom live within walking distance of one another in West Seattle. "We're our own independent family out here, and we're continually bringing those people into the mix" at Tat's.

Before opening his sandwich shop, Tat "did the day-to-day grind in the corporate world," working as a marketing manager for a telecom business during the go-go years. But slicing meats and serving customers at breakfast and lunch is what it's all about today. While the original Tat's was borne out of a need for a taste of home, the need for a bigger home is what's driving the move to larger quarters.

"We've been building our reputation on food alone, and it's a challenge keeping people's expectations filled with places like Subway or Quiznos," he admits, citing the national chains where sandwiches are sold for a song. "But we've done well at our price-levels, trying to maintain that $10 lunch. If I can maintain the quality of the sandwiches we're putting out, and if they're satisfying to me and live up to our expectations, then we've achieved our goal."

Stay tuned to Tat's Web-site for more on the move. And note that once moved, hours will be extended (weekdays: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturdays 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Seahawk Sundays: 3 hours before the game till kickoff).