x
Breaking News
More () »

Fleming Island man says he invented chicken tender pub sub, the internet doesn't believe him

"Publix chicken tender subs were not on the menu and didn't exist until my co-worker and I convinced a friend at Fleming Island Publix to make us one."
Credit: Publix
Publix Chicken Tender Sub

Dave Charls and his buddies may need some credit. If they did what he claims, the trio gave North Florida its favorite sandwich - the chicken tender pub sub.

The sandwich is so popular it has its own Facebook page called Are Publix Chicken Tender Subs On Sale?

Charls took to that page just over a week ago to let every know where the sandwich of their desire came from; himself and two friends, one of whom worked in the Publix deli in the late 1990's.

"Here's a little history of the publix chicken tender sub," Charls wrote in the Facebook post. "Publix chicken tender subs were not on the menu and didn't exist until my co-worker (Kevin) and I convinced a friend of mine (Philip) who worked in the Fleming island Publix to make us one. This was back probably 97 or 98 I think?"

Charls admits in the post that he was mostly the middle man in the chicken tender pub sub genesis. "It was actually Kevin's idea and Philip brought it to life," he said.

Charls goes on to say he and his friend had to buy the tenders and rolls separately and make the sandwiches themselves because the deli refused. "It took a lot of convincing to get the first one made, believe it or not," he said in the Facebook post that has been shared over 170 times.

Their persistence paid off prompting sandwich history.

"... I finally had a guy on the inside who would do it," Charls post states. "The next day he talked his manager into making it a special, put a chalkboard sign out front ... it was such a hit they started doing it at other stores. Thus, the chicken tender pub-sub was born. You're welcome."

Chicken tender pub sub lovers owe a debt of gratitude to the inventors of this sandwich, but they weren't buying Charls story.

"This is definitely BS. Years ago when I worked in the deli around the same time we were making them in our hometown store in Brooksville." - Alex Galvan

"I'll take "things that never happened for 500, Alex." - Aaron Legg

"Sounds fake, and honestly, how did you think this was even remotely real?" - Jamie Swann Lepp

"Fake news." Cari Booth

Charls admits that he's lost touch with his buddies so they can't corroborate his tasty tale.

Administrators of the "Are Publix Chicken Tender Subs On Sale" Facebook page are trying to help him out by asking people to share the post until they find the alleged sandwich co-founders, Kevin and Philip.

The Publix chicken tender sub was this close to never existing 🤯 Full story below. SHARE until we find Kevin and Philip 💚

Before You Leave, Check This Out