‘Longest Line of Cheesesteaks’: New world record makes history at Philadelphia airport

PHILADELPHIA — Travelers passing through Philadelphia International Airport on Monday may have expected long security lines. But the longest line was made of sliced ​​cheese.

Organizers say they have set a new Guinness World Record for the longest line of cheesesteak sandwiches, with 1,291 lined up inside the departure hall to celebrate National Cheesesteak Day. The supply far exceeded the previous standard of 500 sandwiches.

“We have set the world record for the longest cheesesteak in history,” said Clarence Lejeune of MarketPlace PHL, a company that manages airport concessions. “We achieved that goal today here in Philadelphia.”

The cheesesteak, which originated in Philadelphia in the early 1900s, is widely considered a signature food of the city. LeJeune described it as “synonymous” with Philadelphia along with its sports culture.

People in black aprons stacked slices of cheese along tables set up in the walkway between Terminals B and C, filling rolls from silver buckets as they passed the storefronts.

After certifying the register, volunteers distributed sandwiches to travelers, airport workers and TSA employees, who were working without pay during the government shutdown.

Ligon joked that there are few strict rules about cheesesteaks, which is part of “the beauty of the experience” — except, he said, “You don’t ask for the Swiss,” referring to the 2003 moment when then-presidential candidate John Kerry was criticized in Philadelphia for ordering one of the Swiss.

Guinness World Records adjudicator Michael Embrick said the rules require that all food used in record attempts be eaten or donated.

“In this case, they’re going to TSA agents who can certainly grab some lunch,” Embrick said.