Bernie's Deli offers a unique sandwich experience

Co-founder Bernard Socha, manages Bernie's Delicatessen & Gourmet Market, a unique sandwich experience close to the Mason Fairfax campus (photo by Cameron Shuler).

Bernie’s Delicatessen & Gourmet Market is anything but your average sandwich shop. 

Serving fresh cut meat in the store and offering a variety of eating options, Bernie’s provides students and the Fairfax community with the opportunity to sit and eat some delicious food.

With roughly 85 years of history, Bernie’s has more recently expanded from the D.C. area to the streets of Fairfax. With a menu that is fairly consistant since it was established in 1925, the deli continues to offer customers a wide range of traditional classics.

Bernie’s is located right in the heart of Fairfax, and has quickly become a local favorite since it opened in 2008. Bernie’s is within walking distance from campus and accepts Mason Money, making it a popular stop for Mason students.

Established by Bernard Socha and his partner in 1925, Bernie’s has its roots in the D.C. location known as Wagshal’s Deli. Bernard and his partner worked collaboratively over the course of several decades to create this small business. However, Socha has expanded on an individual endeavor in the Fairfax community while still retaining Wagshal’s traditions.

Bernie’s serves breakfast, lunch and dinner while offering consumers with the option to buy fresh cold cuts. Due to its close proximity to Mason and to municipal offices of Fairfax including the fire and police departments, Bernie’s appears to be the busiest during lunch hours throughout the week.

“Most of the sandwiches we prepare are made with meat cut hours before it’s placed on the sandwich,” said Socha.

Bernie’s offers three sizes of sandwiches including regular, extra meat and most recently the Belly Buster. The Belly Buster contains 1 pound of meat on a 1-½ foot long baguette. As the deli continues to grow, Socha noted that Bernie’s will continue to “expand and grow based on the demands of the customer.”

Since its opening, Bernie’s has continued to renovate, growing to further meet the needs of its customers. Along with expanding their menu and store, the deli now offers catering services. They have recently renovated to provide more indoor seating due to increased business.

Additionally, the construction of new condominiums has started just across the street from Bernie’s. With construction nearing a close, Bernie’s will now be able to offer incoming residents access to all the benefits of a New York deli and great homemade sandwiches.

In the future, Bernie’s hopes to offer more promotions for students at Mason, to have outdoor seating and to add more extended hours.

Bernie’s Delicatessen & Gourmet Market is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. with shortened hours on Sundays from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.