There’s a new sandwich maker in town. ‘Deluxe’ subs await at Lakewood shop

Mosa Sandwich Makers has quietly opened at 9801 South Tacoma Way. If the name sounds vaguely familiar, you’ve probably had some sandwiches in Tacoma over the years.

Hashed Mousa and two of his sons, Abdulghani and Adel Mosa, are behind the new Lakewood venture. It’s not affiliated with the similarly named MSM Deli, the 30-year-old shop on Sixth Avenue, but Mousa is related personally and was professionally.

Mousa worked at MSM for more than 20 years, starting in 1998 after emigrating to the United States from Yemen. His mother married the owner of MSM Deli, Mike Muthala, also a Yemeni immigrant, who adopted him as his own. Familial strings frayed around 2021, when Mousa learned that Jamal Muthala, technically his half-brother, had taken financial control of the family business a decade prior. It led to a legal dispute in which Mousa alleged he had been improperly paid for years’ worth of work and his twin sons had also been working as minors without pay, as The News Tribune reported. Mousa thought he would have a stake in the family business but learned that opportunity was never in the cards.

The family received a total of $110,000 in a settlement agreement, according to their attorney at the time. Jamal Muthala did not admit any wrongdoing, liability or fault under the terms of the agreement.

Mousa returned to Yemen, he explained to The News Tribune this month, heartbroken at what had unfolded. His adopted father has also returned to the Middle East, he said.

“I stepped out of the family business,” Mousa said. Upon returning to Tacoma, he started hearing about changes at the original MSM. He was a familiar face at the Sixth Avenue shop for so long, and customers recognized him out and about. They would ask him questions, he recalled, and he would have to explain, “I’m not involved anymore.”

He wondered if there was a way to give back to the community that gave him so much. Why not start his own sandwich shop? He had the knowledge and decades’ worth of feedback.

“It wasn’t easy for me to move forward,” he said. The legal dispute also claimed that Mousa and his family had been living in a house owned by the Muthalas, which they also lost. “I’m gonna give it one more try, and try on my own. … I loved serving the public. I grew up around the customers, and they had a big support and a big impact in my life.”

In searching for a space, he found the 1,100-square-foot mini-mart on South Tacoma Way. The last tenant wanted to open a halal market here. It had the bones of what could be a deli, thought Mousa. The result is an open space with coolers holding soft drinks, juice, teas and water; shelves of Tim’s Cascade Chips, Doritos and Fritos; and the deli counter, replete with a meat slicer that Mousa knows well.

The menu features 11 house sandwiches, packed with meat, served on a French roll from a Seattle-area bakery in four sizes (6, 9, 13 and 26 inches), cold or toasted, plus a pickle on the side. The Reuben, served on sliced rye, is the only exception to the sub rule.

“I knew what sells the most,” explained Mousa of the simplified list of specialties. “I’d rather focus on what is the most selling than just have a lot on the menu.”

The twins pointed to The Big Bite as the superstar: turkey-bacon, sliced turkey, roast beef, cheddar and Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, fresh onion, sprouts, pickles, mayo and mustard.

The Deluxe Deli Club is similar but sans beef — add your choice of cheese and avocado. Other signatures include the French dip, cheesesteak, turkey BLT, tuna salad, the “Golden Caesar” and a meatball sub. You can also create your own, including a mini 3-inch version for the kids.

If chips aren’t your bag, a cup of chili goes for $4 and a homemade cookie for $1.

Why call it Mosa and not Mousa? The twins explained that there was an issue with translating the family’s last name on their paperwork many moons ago. In the case of the new shop, Mosa represents the next generation of sandwich makers.

The family plans to make sandwiches daily with earlier and later hours anticipated.

Mosa Sandwich Makers

• 9801 South Tacoma Way, Lakewood, 253-317-4092, instagram.com/mosasandwichmakersllc
• Current Hours: daily 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
• Details: new sandwich shop with hearty subs ($8.99-$31.98, most 13-inch around $14), chips and soft drinks

This story was originally published August 25, 2025 at 5:00 AM.