Hobby’s Hoagies

By Laura Beam

It’s hard to remember a time when there wasn’t a sandwich shop on every corner, but in 1991 when Hobby’s Hoagies opened in Edmond, it was a legacy in the making. Today, 32 years later, the authentic East Coast hoagies and pizzas still stand out in a class all their own.

George Hobson moved from Delaware to OKC in 1978 as part of the management team to help open the new GM plant. Craving the sandwiches and Philly cheesesteaks he had in Delaware, but not finding any restaurants in Oklahoma that served them, he began making his own. With the recipes and help of his wife, Patricia, George’s homemade hoagies became a huge hit among friends and coworkers at GM. In 1991, Patricia and daughter, Kim Nixon, opened Hobby’s Hoagies and George joined them there after retiring from GM. “At one point,” Kim recalls, “all three of my brothers and I were working here with mom and dad. Over the years, we’ve had three generations of family working here.” Although the family never intended to be one of the first to bring a taste of the East Coast to Oklahoma, that’s just what they did.

A Taste of Home

Now operated by Kim and her son, Christopher Nixon, the Edmond and Downtown OKC locations serve up the same crowd-pleasing recipes as they did on day one. “Other than adding some new sandwiches, we haven’t changed anything,” Kim reflects. “Everything is made exactly the same, with my mom’s recipes.”

Anything that starts with homemade Italian bread, rolls and pizza dough is destined for greatness. Topping that with only the freshest and finest ingredients is a signature must for Hobby’s Hoagies. Prime, juicy ribeye steak, premium Boar’s Head lunch meat, fresh vegetables prepped in-house daily, and crushed hot cherry peppers shipped in from Delaware are standard fare. The Philly Hoagie, one of the most popular menu items, is loaded with flavor and brimming with East Coast flair. Prime ribeye steak, natural chicken breast and lean hamburger are layered on a homemade Italian roll and finished with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions and cheese. The Special Italian Hoagie, aptly named, is another big hitter. Ham, salami, Provolone cheese and cappocola, plus all the toppings, get an extra kick with oils, spices and spicy cherry peppers. Everything about this sub is satisfying. The crunch, the touch of heat, the tang–it just works!

The Reuben is another deli delight, with its toasty, buttery rye bread and generous layers of corned beef. Of course, no nod to the East Coast would be complete without that famous NY-style, foldable pizza, and Hobby’s does it right with homemade dough and creative combos like the Philly Cheesesteak Pizza.

Mood Meets Food

With its inviting neighborhood feel and great staff who are like family, this sandwich shop sees generations of diners coming back, bringing their kids and grandkids to share a taste of their own fond memories. “There is one couple who comes in every year for their anniversary,” Kim recounts. “They’ve been doing it for 22 years.”

For Kim, that sense of family and connectivity and gratitude extends to the whole Edmond community. “During Covid, the community rallied around small businesses. Not only did people support our restaurant, but they loved it when our food truck showed up in their neighborhood, selling our Italian Water Ice, which is like a snowcone, but has the texture of sorbet. We can’t thank everyone enough. Edmond truly is a great community.”

Visit 222 S. Santa Fe Ave. or order and pay online at hobbyshoagies.com.