Brother vs. Brother: The story of Seaside’s dueling cheesesteak stands

Anyone who has passed by the corner of Dupont and Ocean avenues in Seaside Heights may have noticed two suspiciously similar-looking cheesesteak stands – Steaks Unlimited and The Original Steaks.

News 12 Staff

Aug 21, 2019, 11:47 PM

Updated 1,732 days ago

Share:

Anyone who has passed by the corner of Dupont and Ocean avenues in Seaside Heights may have noticed two suspiciously similar-looking cheesesteak stands – Steaks Unlimited and The Original Steaks.
Both are painted bright yellow, sell nearly identical bread pocket-style cheesesteaks, and both claim to be the original creator of the cheeseball.
It turns out that the story behind the competing cheesesteak stands started out as a family squabble between two brothers – Sal and Clem Faruolo.
What happened? It's kind of a family thing,” says Mike Carbone, cousin to the brothers. “One brother moved away. Went to California for a couple of years and then when the other brother came back they decided to each run their own thing.”
Carbone says that both brothers were running Steaks Unlimited together when Sal decided to move to California. When Sal returned to New Jersey, there was a fight over the ownership of the business – a fight that ended up in court.
Clem got the name Steaks Unlimited and in 2012 moved across the street, painted the new place yellow and reopened Steaks Unlimited. Sal, who owned the original building, reopened as The Original Steaks.
The brothers did not speak for four years. But Clem tells News 12 New Jersey that the feud is now over. He says that his own divorce and the passage of time made him reconcile with his brother.
“We’re friends. We bike ride every day. We talk - he comes over here, I go over there. That's everything,” says Clem.
The brothers now say that they have a friendly competition over the two businesses.


More from News 12
Authorities: George Washington Bridge climber in custody

Authorities: George Washington Bridge climber in custody

2:16
Mild and dry Sunday in New Jersey

Mild and dry Sunday in New Jersey

1:40
Red Bank's Broad Walk summer festival returns to downtown

Red Bank's Broad Walk summer festival returns to downtown

2:08
Residents get rid of junk during citywide ‘Love Newark, Keep It Clean’ campaign

Residents get rid of junk during citywide ‘Love Newark, Keep It Clean’ campaign

1:19
Bus catches fire on Garden State Parkway near Wall Township

Bus catches fire on Garden State Parkway near Wall Township

0:23
Prosecutor: Plainfield man sentenced to 5 years in prison for Bridgewater car crash

Prosecutor: Plainfield man sentenced to 5 years in prison for Bridgewater car crash

1:43
CDC urges people to get vaccinated amid resurgence of mpox

CDC urges people to get vaccinated amid resurgence of mpox

0:31
Police: Jersey City man arrested following pursuit spanning 2 counties

Police: Jersey City man arrested following pursuit spanning 2 counties

2:37
‘We’re asking to fight.’ Parents, students call on officials to save Wayne Catholic school from closing

‘We’re asking to fight.’ Parents, students call on officials to save Wayne Catholic school from closing

2:05
36th Annual Belmar Seafood Festival to take place this weekend at Silver Lake Park

36th Annual Belmar Seafood Festival to take place this weekend at Silver Lake Park

0:25
Prosecutor: Human remains found in 1 of 3 cars submerged in Cooper River in Pennsauken

Prosecutor: Human remains found in 1 of 3 cars submerged in Cooper River in Pennsauken

0:18
Newark police seek public’s help identifying package thief

Newark police seek public’s help identifying package thief

0:21
Officials: 3 people, including 2 officers, injured in car crash in Jersey City

Officials: 3 people, including 2 officers, injured in car crash in Jersey City

0:41
Jersey Proud: Rowan College students hold fashion show at Cherry Hill Mall with their designs

Jersey Proud: Rowan College students hold fashion show at Cherry Hill Mall with their designs

0:15
Police: Newton hospital temporarily put on lockdown amid reports of armed person

Police: Newton hospital temporarily put on lockdown amid reports of armed person

2:26
First full week of Sen. Menendez’s federal corruption trial comes to a close

First full week of Sen. Menendez’s federal corruption trial comes to a close

2:24
New Jersey man dubbed ‘most frequent flyer’ hits 24 million miles in the sky

New Jersey man dubbed ‘most frequent flyer’ hits 24 million miles in the sky

3:17
Peapack-Gladstone residents, business owners split on decision to euthanize geese in borough

Peapack-Gladstone residents, business owners split on decision to euthanize geese in borough

1:30
Scottie Scheffler, charged with assault after officer dragged near fatal crash, tees off at PGA Championship

Scottie Scheffler, charged with assault after officer dragged near fatal crash, tees off at PGA Championship

1:36
Hoboken introduces ordinance banning single-use food items in take-out orders. See the plan.

Hoboken introduces ordinance banning single-use food items in take-out orders. See the plan.