Sandwiches can be a work of art, and one Jersey City resident is taking this artistry to a new level. Chris Gennone, perhaps better known as @betweentwoslicesjc on Instagram, has taken sandwich-making by storm with his monthly pop-up sales. The Hoboken Girl had a chance to connect with Chris to learn more about how his love for sandwiches turned into a business venture and what to expect from his culinary creations. Read on to learn more about Chris and the Between Two Slices Monthly Sandwich Club in Jersey City.
Photo Credit: Chris Gennone
Getting Started
The formula of two pieces of bread filled with various meats, cheeses, toppings, and condiments has been developed into hundreds of different creations by many chefs and home cooks alike. Jersey City’s Chris Genoone is putting his spin on the classic lunch food. Chris has been making sandwiches for most of his life.
“There’s this deep nostalgic feeling I get when it comes to making sandwiches. I have a lot of great memories of making them with my grandfather after working in his garden and packing sandwiches with my dad for a long drive. They were bonding experiences for me,” Chris told HG.
Photo Credit: Chris Gennone
Fast forward to 2020, and NJ Monthly hired Chris to write its food blog’s monthly sandwich column. “It was a dream gig – being able to experience so many great delis and shops around NJ and giving these businesses the exposure they deserved,” Chris shared. With so many incredible sandwiches throughout the state, there was no way Chris could fit them all into his column, so he decided to do reviews on his own.
Read More: ICYMI: ‘The Hoboken Girl’ Breakfast Sandwich is Now PERMANENT on the Alessio’s Menu
In addition to writing the NJ Monthly column, Chris started taking to social media to review sandwiches from local food establishments. He ran different video series on Instagram surrounding the sandwiches he tasted, and his audience loved the reviews. “I started posting photos of sandwiches I liked or ones that people would send me. And it kind of just escalated from there,” Chris shared. Toward the end of 2022, Chris found himself unhappy in his day job, and with the encouragement of his girlfriend, Sammy, he decided to start doing more of what he loves. “Starting a sandwich pop-up has been on my mind for a long time,” he shared. By January 2023, this dream became a reality.
Pop-Up Sandwich Shop
Chris and Sammy started working on sandwich creations from their home kitchen for close friends, and slowly, the word began to get out. “Sammy and I started doing it out of the tiny kitchen in my apartment just for friends. I’d make the sandwiches, and Sammy would wrap them and give them to the customer. And then we slowly started getting more and more orders and new customers that we didn’t personally know. We started selling out each month, and with the positive feedback, we realized that this could be a legitimate business one day,” Chris shared. Thus, Between Two Slices was born.
Photo Credit: Chris Gennone
The monthly pop-up is different from the average sandwich shop. Developing the menu to be unique and uncharted was very important to Chris, given how much he knew about the great sandwiches New Jerseyians already had access to. “When building our menu, it was really important to me to make sandwiches that were different since there’s an abundance of Italian and Jewish delis in New Jersey,” he explained.
Chris has achieved this goal using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients, like the tomatoes in the BLT with roasted tomato aioli. Additionally, he finds inspiration wherever he goes and from others in the business. “As for inspiration, Sammy and I are always chatting about and experimenting with flavors based on dishes we love and trying to adapt them into a sandwich. I get a lot of inspiration from Instagram as well, seeing what other shops are up to,” he shared.
How It Works
Between Two Slices Sandwich Pop-Up is hosted on the last Saturday of each month, with that month’s menu posted on Instagram the Monday prior. The sandwiches are prepared in a commercial kitchen with pop-up locations for distribution throughout New Jersey. The menu changes each month, and only a limited number of the creations are available.
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Previous sandwiches have included “The Goat,” which had roasted butternut squash, grilled endive, fried goat cheese, caramelized onion, and pear jam served on focaccia, and “Sammy’s Sammie,” which boasted hot soppressata, lemon ricotta, arugula, and balsamic fig jam on sourdough focaccia. Customers can pre-order on the Google Form linked on the Between Two Slices Instagram page. The suggested sandwich donation is $15 for most or a little more, depending on the ingredients used that month. The pick-up is located in Jersey City Heights, with the specific address released to customers upon placing an order. Currently, the team is making about 15-30 sandwiches per pop-up.
See More: Must-Try Sandwich Spots in Essex County That Should Be On Your Radar
Looking to the Future
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Between Two Slices currently operates on a pre-order and donation model but has plans to grow soon. “We’re looking forward to doing local farmers’ markets, pop-up events, and collaborations with local businesses,” Chris said. Eventually, the goal is to open a food truck or even have a storefront, but Chris wants to make sure the business scales correctly. “Our goal is to open a food truck or storefront someday, but it’s important to us that we continue to grow organically. I remember reading somewhere that a popular pizza pop-up, Chrissy’s Pizza, said something like, “You create the line.” That really resonated with me, and that’s what we plan to do,” he said.
To stay updated on upcoming pop-ups, be sure to follow Between Two Slices on Instagram @betweentwoslicesjc.
Farmers’ Market, Street Fair, + More: HDSID’s 2025 Event Season in Jersey City
This article is sponsored by the Historic Downtown Special Improvement District (HDSID).
If you live in Jersey City, you know that the Historic Downtown Special Improvement District (aka HDSID) is always hosting fun events for locals. From farmers’ markets to the annual All About Downtown Street Fair, this local non-profit is committed to making Chilltown a great place to live. HDSID is currently gearing up for its 2025 events season, and we’re sharing all the FREE upcoming happenings to look forward to: the spring + summer farmers’ market, the Handmade Market, Groove on Grove, and the All About Downtown Street Fair. Applications are now open for local businesses and vendors looking to get involved. Read on for more about HDSID’s upcoming 2025 events in Jersey City, New Jersey.
HDSID’s 2025 Events Lineup in Jersey City
Spring + Summer Farmers’ Market | April-December
Every Monday and Thursday from April 28th through December 22nd, 2025, HDSID’s Spring + Summer Farmers’ Market will be in session at the Grove Street PATH Plaza in Jersey City. From 3PM-7PM each week, locals can shop for baked goods, fresh produce, artisanal bites, coffee, drinks, nuts, and so much more.
Handmade Market | May-September
HDSID’s Handmade Market will run from May 7th through September 17th, 2025. Every Wednesday from 3PM-8PM and Saturday from 12PM-6PM, residents can browse unique creations from local artists and makers at the Grove Street PATH Plaza in Jersey City.
Groove on Grove | May-August
Groove on Grove is all about highlighting up-and-coming local musicians. These events will take place every Wednesday from 6PM-9PM at the Grove Street PATH Plaza in Jersey City from May 7th through August 27th, 2025. All music booking is done by Rock-it Docket.
14th Annual All About Downtown Street Fair | September
HDSID’s annual All About Downtown Street Fair has become a local favorite and is one of the most popular events of the year. The 2025 Street Fair will take place on Saturday, September 20th from 12PM-8PM. From Grove Street to Coles Street in Jersey City, locals can expect 200+ businesses, eats, drinks, music, shopping, rides, kid-friendly activities, and much more.
All of these events are FREE to attend. Vendor registration and sponsorships are now open for all of HDSID’s 2025 events in Jersey City. All applications for the above events can be found on HDSID’s website here. Subscribe to the newsletter for the latest updates.
About HDSID
The Historic Downtown Special Improvement District (HDSID) is a public-private partnership, 501(C) which allows local business owners to directly impact the neighborhoods in Historic Downtown Jersey City. The community-first non-profit expanded to include 26 more businesses in spring 2024 and works with local businesses, property owners, and neighborhood associations in partnership with the City government. HDSID also has a clean team on duty seven days a week from 5AM-7PM to ensure the cleanliness of the downtown area, and hosts various community events year-round. HDSID’s mantra is “Live, shop, support local. Always!”
Learn more about HDSID in Jersey City on the website.
