Donkey's Place
{{Short description|Restaurant in Camden, New Jersey, U.S.}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox Restaurant
| name = Donkey's Place
| image = Donkey's Place.jpg
| image_width =
| image_caption =
| established = {{start date and age|1943}}
| previous-owner = Leon "Donkey" Lucas
Robert "Bob" Lucas
| current-owner = Robert Lucas Jr.
| head-chef =
| food-type = North American cuisine
| dress-code = Casual
| rating =
| street-address = 1223 Haddon Ave
| city = Camden
| state = New Jersey
| zip = 08103
| country = United States
|coordinates = {{coord|39.931529|-75.102333|type:landmark_globe:earth_region:US-NJ|display=ti}}
| seating-capacity =
| reservations =
| other-locations =
| other-information =
| website = {{URL|https://www.donkeysplace.com/}}
}}
Donkey's Place is a restaurant and bar founded in 1943 in the Parkside neighborhood of Camden, New Jersey, which sells various sandwiches. The deli is known for its hoagies and cheesesteaks.{{Cite web| title = In Camden for 75 years, Donkey's Place serves cheesesteaks - and so much more| last = Riordan| first = Kevin| work = Inquirer.com| date = 18 January 2018| access-date = 26 July 2020| url = https://www.inquirer.com/philly/columnists/kevin_riordan/camden-donkeys-place-anthony-bourdain-cheesesteaks-parts-unknown-20180118.html| archive-date = 9 November 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201109003511/https://www.inquirer.com/philly/columnists/kevin_riordan/camden-donkeys-place-anthony-bourdain-cheesesteaks-parts-unknown-20180118.html| url-status = live}}
History
Chick's was founded in 1943 at 1223 Haddon Avenue in Camden by Leon "Donkey" Lucas and his wife. The restaurant has remained in the same location since its establishment. Leon, a former boxer, received the nickname "Donkey" due to his punch being compared to the kick of a mule. Donkey's is known to serve its cheesesteaks on large kaiser rolls instead of long hoagie rolls, and to use white American cheese exclusively rather than giving customers a choice of American, provolone, or Cheez Whiz. Leon died in 1971, ownership of the restaurant passed to his son, Robert A. "Bob" Lucas.{{Cite web| title = Anthony Bourdain Says the Best Cheesesteak 'Might Well' Be From Jersey| author = Szkaradnik, Carly| work = Eater Philly| date = 2015-05-28| access-date = 26 July 2020| url = https://philly.eater.com/2015/5/28/8682549/anthony-bourdain-best-cheesesteak-donkeys-place-camden| archive-date = 2020-07-27| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200727034448/https://philly.eater.com/2015/5/28/8682549/anthony-bourdain-best-cheesesteak-donkeys-place-camden| url-status = live}}
In 2015, Donkey's Place was featured on CNN's Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown. Bourdain said Donkey's Place had his favorite cheesesteak and considered it better than cheesesteaks from Philadelphia.{{Cite web| title = Best Philly cheesesteak is in NJ, Bourdain says| author = Peter Genovese| work = NJ| date = 2019-01-17| access-date = 26 July 2020| url = https://www.nj.com/jerseysbest/2015/05/the_best_philly_cheesesteak_is_in_nj_anthony_bourd.html| archive-date = 2020-07-27| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200727090959/https://www.nj.com/jerseysbest/2015/05/the_best_philly_cheesesteak_is_in_nj_anthony_bourd.html| url-status = live}} Bob died of lung cancer on July 31, 2015. Camden County Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli, said in a statement he "will always be remembered" and "Donkey’s Place is truly an institution in Camden and is beloved by generations of residents".{{Cite web| title = Camden cheesesteak vendor dies at 75| author = Walsh, Jim| work = Courier-Post| date = 2015-08-04| access-date = 26 July 2020| url = https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/news/local/south-jersey/2015/08/03/robert-lucas-donkeys-camden-cheesesteak/31071779/}} Ownership was passed to his son, Robert Lucas Jr.{{Cite web| title = Bob Lucas, Owner of Donkey's Place in Camden, Has Died| author = Szkaradnik, Carly| work = Eater Philly| date = 2015-08-04| access-date = 26 July 2020| url = https://philly.eater.com/2015/8/4/9097351/robert-lucas-donkeys-place-camden-obituary| archive-date = 2020-07-27| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200727034504/https://philly.eater.com/2015/8/4/9097351/robert-lucas-donkeys-place-camden-obituary| url-status = live}}
See also
{{portal|Food}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.donkeysplace.com/}}
{{Camden, New Jersey}}
{{Cheesesteak}}
Category:1943 establishments in New Jersey
Category:Buildings and structures in Camden, New Jersey