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Mr. Beef's Joe Zucchero dies at age 69

Zucchero founded Mr. Beef sandwich shop, a Chicago cult favorite and the inspiration for the hit TV show "The Bear."
Mr. Beef's obit
An Italian beef sandwich. / Photo: Shutterstock

Joe Zucchero, founder of the cult favorite Mr. Beef sandwich shop in Chicago, died last week at age 69.

The cause of death was not revealed.

Zucchero’s 43-year-old Italian beef stand was the model for the restaurant depicted in the hit TV show “The Bear.” 

It has also figured into countless disagreements over which establishment has the best Italian beef sandwich in the Windy City. Just as locals will spiritedly debate which baseball team is better, the Cubs or the White Sox, or if Pizzeria Uno serves a better pie than Lou Malnatti’s or Pequod’s, they will often sound off about Mr. Beef’s superiority over Al’s #1 Italian Beef, or vice-versa.

Zucchero opened Mr. Beef in Chicago’s River North neighborhood in 1979 in partnership with his brother, Dominic. The area would eventually become one of the city’s premier dining destinations, but it was far from a choice location at the time, especially for tourists.

Italian beef is a Chicago signature, like deep-dish pizza, brats or a hotdog garnished with Sport peppers. A sandwich consists of thinly sliced beef, similar to the meat used in Philadelphia’s cheesesteaks or Los Angeles’ French dip sandwich. Fans will often order their sandwich “wet,” or dipped in au jus.

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