Leonard Poma – who started “Poma’s” on Bacon Street – passed last Wednesday, March 6th. He is reportedly to have died at home around 5 a.m. with his family.
Leonard, or “Len”, had been battling cancer for awhile now. But his body finally gave out. He was 62.
Poma’s became synonymous for wonderful roast beef sandwiches. Those and his cheese-heavy pizzas have been mainstays in the Ocean Beach restaurant scene since the 1960’s.
Services will be held Thursday, March 14, at 11 at the Gateway Church in El Cajon (1280 North Johnson Avenue). All are welcome.
Len’s son, Nicholas, has carried the business on for years. At one point years ago, the business had been sold to someone else. But for whatever reasons, Len took it back and it’s been in the family since.
leonard will be sorely missed. i know he hasn’t worked at the place for awhile now. but my personal favorite is the meatball sandwich.
Damn, Len! Why did you have to go and do such a thing, dude? My condolences to the Poma family.
How sad. His shop is the best place in San Diego for sandwiches.
my heart goes out to the Poma Family. daddy’s are such special people.
I’ve been consuming Poma’s sandwiches (either the Ham & Cheese or the Roast Beef) since 1976. Leonard was always friendly and genuine and he knew how to cook a mean roast beef. My hope is that he enjoyed his retirement after Nick took over.
We use to eat there in the mid-70s when we lived there. Whenver we visit, a Torpedo at the Poma is our first “welcome home” meal. RIP Leonard.
R.I.P Leonard and darn you for giving that Larry Himmel clown a job making sandwiches for you back in the seventies. what a goof he was….
Rest easy my friend, I’ll be showing up at your sandwich order counter someday.
Rick