Add your memories of Porubsky’s Deli in the comments section!
13 thoughts on “Share your Story”
“Umm, excuse me. Could I please have the mayo?”
“I’ll get the salad dressing!”
Enough said.
My first trip to Porubsky’s was just a few weeks ago. I’ve been doing an externship in the State Treasurer’s office for school this semester and we’ve made it a point to eat a different local restaurants (and other establishments) for lunch each week. We call our adventure “Tom and Tara’s Tasty Topeka Tuesday’s” [subject to variation of course ].
At any rate…I saw Porubsky’s online at the seveneightfive website and asked about it. After I got the history, I really had to go and experience it. Took us several weeks to get there, but I was certainly not disappointed.
It was everything I had expected, wanted to experience, and more! I’ll be back for sure.
My first Porubsky’s visit was at the age of 16 with my high school best friend, Pat Thomas. We passed for 18, drank a pitcher of beer and had a great time. Another memory was going to a Royal’s game with a bunch of Dutch Goose people on a chartered bus in about 1978. We had a keg of beer, plenty of Porubsky’s cold cut plates and hot pickles! What fun!
I just remember a day I was over at Porubsky’s for lunch and a group of firemen came in sat down, got their chili and sandwiches and immediately received a call and had to leave without paying and how the staff at Porubsky’s made sure that when they returned they got fresh food. It says a lot about character.
Charles taught me an invaluable skill, which has probably saved me
$5,000 over the past 40 years. Right after I got married, we were
visiting the deli, and I mentioned to Charles that a cut-up chicken
cost about $2 more than a whole chicken. Well, he pulled a plump
roaster out of the cooler, and right there on the famous butcher block
cutting board, demonstrated how to cut up a chicken for any recipe.
He then pulled out a few more, handed me the meat cleaver, and said,
“You do it a few times, and you’ll never forget.” How right he was.
I never pay more for a cut up chicken, when I can do the job myself in
30 seconds!
I rented a house back in 75′ ..the first house before the tracks.Worked in north Topeka. I loved going to Porubsky’s..for lunch..for my deli meats and hot pickles. Charlie and the rest of the family treated very well and made me feel welcome…I still shop there today when ever I get a chance.. Who can pass up that ham salad..or smoke cheddar cheese or shaved ham …or ..Sorry got carried away..
The first time I had gotten a taste of Porubsky’s was when I was pregnant with my daughter. I had craved chili for quite some time during the pregnancy and just couldn’t find the perfect masterpiece to satisfy the cravings. My husband said he remembered a place he used to go to with his folks, so we went to Porubsky’s, on a friday. Well, I didn’t get the chili that day but the ham salad sandwich really hit the spot! Love the food, love the people, and love the family traditions being carried on! YEEHAW Porubsky’s!!
From the time I arrived in Topeka in 1966, to attend Washburn, until I left in 1974, Porubsky’s was a must-stop on weekends. Mr. Porubsky was generous to a fault and delighted in making deli platters for our Democratic gatherings, usually donated.
Good as the food was, the best part of Porubsky’s was being with the Porubsky family and all their friends and customers.
When I returned to my hometown of Hays, I reminisced often about the “hottest pickles on earth” and finally got my wish when a friend started toting them back here when he was coming through Topeka. Now, if we could import that Porubsky atmosphere, life would be perfect!
I used to hate horse radish – but Porubsky’s taught me to love it.
Anything’s possible at Porubsky’s (this should be the new slogan…)
My first Porubsky’s experience was with the one and only Matt Porubsky during our stint as employees of Senator David Adkins. Between the food and the quick wit of my companions, it ranks as one of the best lunch outtings, ever.
I first got to know the Porubsky Family in 1969. As a child my family and I lived next door to them. Mark there som and I became good friends I could have never met a better more Honist Family that treated everyone with respect I still come in the store whenever I come to Topeka It is as much a part of topeka as the Capital Building and you cant beat the food I can still see Grandma And Charlie Behind that meat counter to this day Love them all
I became a Porubsky customer back in the early 1950s. I lived in North Topeka and was not long out of high school when I took a notion to make my own beer. When I asked around about where to buy the supplies for making home brew, I was told Porubskys store in “Little Russia” was the place to go. There I found the malt, yeast a hydrometer, and when I needed it, some expert advice from the lady who ran the store. I made home brew for several years. I have good memories of those long ago days. I no longer make beer but still go to Porubskys for good chili and the hot peppers.
My father Paul was born in Little Russia and lived there with his family until they moved to Oelwein Iowa in search of work on the railroad. He has since passed away but he told me so many stories about Porubsky’s and would send me newspaper clippings every time Charlie was in the Topeka paper. Two years ago I finally made the trek to visit Porubsky’s. I stopped by Ed Porubsky’s home to say hello and before you know it he was showing me around Little Russia, pointing out the house where my dad was born and of course we paid a visit to Porubsky’s. It was great to finally see the place my dad had talked about all these years. This week, I’m flying my dad’s bother Ed out to Topeka from his home near Los Angeles so he can see his home town again. He hasn’t been there since the war so it will be a great trip. I can’t wait til we have a hot pickle and a cold beer!!
“Umm, excuse me. Could I please have the mayo?”
“I’ll get the salad dressing!”
Enough said.
My first trip to Porubsky’s was just a few weeks ago. I’ve been doing an externship in the State Treasurer’s office for school this semester and we’ve made it a point to eat a different local restaurants (and other establishments) for lunch each week. We call our adventure “Tom and Tara’s Tasty Topeka Tuesday’s” [subject to variation of course
].
At any rate…I saw Porubsky’s online at the seveneightfive website and asked about it. After I got the history, I really had to go and experience it. Took us several weeks to get there, but I was certainly not disappointed.
It was everything I had expected, wanted to experience, and more! I’ll be back for sure.
My first Porubsky’s visit was at the age of 16 with my high school best friend, Pat Thomas. We passed for 18, drank a pitcher of beer and had a great time. Another memory was going to a Royal’s game with a bunch of Dutch Goose people on a chartered bus in about 1978. We had a keg of beer, plenty of Porubsky’s cold cut plates and hot pickles! What fun!
I just remember a day I was over at Porubsky’s for lunch and a group of firemen came in sat down, got their chili and sandwiches and immediately received a call and had to leave without paying and how the staff at Porubsky’s made sure that when they returned they got fresh food. It says a lot about character.
Charles taught me an invaluable skill, which has probably saved me
$5,000 over the past 40 years. Right after I got married, we were
visiting the deli, and I mentioned to Charles that a cut-up chicken
cost about $2 more than a whole chicken. Well, he pulled a plump
roaster out of the cooler, and right there on the famous butcher block
cutting board, demonstrated how to cut up a chicken for any recipe.
He then pulled out a few more, handed me the meat cleaver, and said,
“You do it a few times, and you’ll never forget.” How right he was.
I never pay more for a cut up chicken, when I can do the job myself in
30 seconds!
I rented a house back in 75′ ..the first house before the tracks.Worked in north Topeka. I loved going to Porubsky’s..for lunch..for my deli meats and hot pickles. Charlie and the rest of the family treated very well and made me feel welcome…I still shop there today when ever I get a chance.. Who can pass up that ham salad..or smoke cheddar cheese or shaved ham …or ..Sorry got carried away..
The first time I had gotten a taste of Porubsky’s was when I was pregnant with my daughter. I had craved chili for quite some time during the pregnancy and just couldn’t find the perfect masterpiece to satisfy the cravings. My husband said he remembered a place he used to go to with his folks, so we went to Porubsky’s, on a friday. Well, I didn’t get the chili that day but the ham salad sandwich really hit the spot! Love the food, love the people, and love the family traditions being carried on! YEEHAW Porubsky’s!!
From the time I arrived in Topeka in 1966, to attend Washburn, until I left in 1974, Porubsky’s was a must-stop on weekends. Mr. Porubsky was generous to a fault and delighted in making deli platters for our Democratic gatherings, usually donated.
Good as the food was, the best part of Porubsky’s was being with the Porubsky family and all their friends and customers.
When I returned to my hometown of Hays, I reminisced often about the “hottest pickles on earth” and finally got my wish when a friend started toting them back here when he was coming through Topeka. Now, if we could import that Porubsky atmosphere, life would be perfect!
I used to hate horse radish – but Porubsky’s taught me to love it.
Anything’s possible at Porubsky’s (this should be the new slogan…)
My first Porubsky’s experience was with the one and only Matt Porubsky during our stint as employees of Senator David Adkins. Between the food and the quick wit of my companions, it ranks as one of the best lunch outtings, ever.
I first got to know the Porubsky Family in 1969. As a child my family and I lived next door to them. Mark there som and I became good friends I could have never met a better more Honist Family that treated everyone with respect I still come in the store whenever I come to Topeka It is as much a part of topeka as the Capital Building and you cant beat the food I can still see Grandma And Charlie Behind that meat counter to this day Love them all
I became a Porubsky customer back in the early 1950s. I lived in North Topeka and was not long out of high school when I took a notion to make my own beer. When I asked around about where to buy the supplies for making home brew, I was told Porubskys store in “Little Russia” was the place to go. There I found the malt, yeast a hydrometer, and when I needed it, some expert advice from the lady who ran the store. I made home brew for several years. I have good memories of those long ago days. I no longer make beer but still go to Porubskys for good chili and the hot peppers.
My father Paul was born in Little Russia and lived there with his family until they moved to Oelwein Iowa in search of work on the railroad. He has since passed away but he told me so many stories about Porubsky’s and would send me newspaper clippings every time Charlie was in the Topeka paper. Two years ago I finally made the trek to visit Porubsky’s. I stopped by Ed Porubsky’s home to say hello and before you know it he was showing me around Little Russia, pointing out the house where my dad was born and of course we paid a visit to Porubsky’s. It was great to finally see the place my dad had talked about all these years. This week, I’m flying my dad’s bother Ed out to Topeka from his home near Los Angeles so he can see his home town again. He hasn’t been there since the war so it will be a great trip. I can’t wait til we have a hot pickle and a cold beer!!