JIM'S WEST
A BELOVED LEGEND RETURNS
Bet you did not know that Jim's Steaks actually began in West Philly.
That's right - Jim's West, at 431 North 62nd Street, is the original location. While the South Street and West Philly spots no longer share ownership, Jim's West has carried on a legacy as one of the city's best cheesesteaks, with a storied history stretching back to 1939. Over the years, everyone from Wilt Chamberlain to Kamala Harris has stopped in to enjoy Jim's superbly crafted sandwiches.
When the West Philly location closed in 2019, hearts broke and cheesesteak lovers everywhere went into mourning. However, love never dies.
In 2023, thanks to the determined efforts of visionaries with neighborhood roots, the place was back in business as Jim's West. These community champions included filmmaker Cortez Johnson, whose uncle had once worked at Jim's, and "CEO Big Duke" Saul T. Landers, a former college hoop star and big-hearted real estate investor who was (and still is) dedicated to inspiring young adults in the local area and creating new business opportunities.
Running the show today is another Saul - Saul E. Landers - a friendly, charismatic fellow who greets Jim's West regulars by name, knows their stories, and helps create a beautiful sense of community in which his store plays a central role. Even the folks behind the counter are part of that community - many worked at the "old" Jim's for decades and were delighted to return when the longtime city landmark reopened in 2023.
Community is a great thing - and so is the food. Philadelphia magazine named Jim's West "Best of Philly 2025." In addition to its mouth-watering cheesesteaks and hoagies, Jim's West features delicious homemade lemonade, along with cousin Jennah Landers' signature homemade banana pudding - a banana pudding that may very well be the finest on the planet. The lines here are often out the door, and it is not hard see why.
Cortez, the Landers family, and their friends have proved that with culinary skill, vision, and heart, a great Philly institution can rise again. The magic is back. Jim's West is more than just a first-rate sandwich shop. It is a homecoming.
JIM'S WEST
431 North 62nd Street
Cortez Johnson
"CEO Big Duke"
Saul T. Landers
Satisfied customers Wilt and Kamala
Young Willie and Old Willie celebrate an awesome meal with fearless leader Saul E. Landers and his lovely friend Latasha, whose beloved father had been a lifelong customer.
