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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — On Monday, travelers at Philadelphia International Airport encountered a unique sight: a line of cheesesteaks stretching longer than
expected security lines. This event aimed to commemorate National Cheesesteak Day and successfully set a new Guinness World Record. Organizers reported that 1,291 cheesesteak sandwiches were lined up inside a departure hall, significantly surpassing the previous record of 500 sandwiches. The event showcased Philadelphia's culinary heritage while engaging airport patrons.
Cheesesteak Line Achieves Record
Clarence LeJeune of MarketPlace PHL, which manages airport concessions, expressed pride in the achievement. “We went for the world record for the longest cheesesteak in history,” he stated. “Today we accomplished that goal here in Philadelphia.”Culinary Heritage on Display
The cheesesteak, a dish that originated in Philadelphia in the early 1900s, is often regarded as the city's signature food. LeJeune described the cheesesteak as “synonymous” with Philadelphia, paralleling its renowned sports culture.Volunteers in black aprons assembled the cheesesteaks along tables situated in the walkway between Terminals B and C, filling rolls from silver buckets as they moved past various storefronts.
Community Engagement
After the record was certified, volunteers distributed the sandwiches to travelers, airport personnel, and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staff, who have been working without pay during the ongoing government shutdown.Michael Empric, a Guinness World Records adjudicator, noted that all food used in record attempts must either be consumed or donated. “In this case, they are going to TSA agents who definitely could use some lunch,” Empric remarked.
