The story
Joe Primanti ran a small sandwich cart in Pittsburgh's Strip District, and in 1933 sales were good enough for him to open a storefront at 46 18th Street. The crowd was mostly late-night and early-morning workers who unloaded produce in the area.
The company tells the fries story through Joe's nephew, John DiPriter: "One winter someone drove up with a load of potatoes." He fried them on the grill, a few customers asked for them, and he put them on the sandwich. The fries and coleslaw went inside the sandwich so drivers could eat it with one hand.
Everything that was here
- 1933–present · still open
Primanti Bros. (Original Location)Restaurant
The fries and coleslaw went on the sandwich itself so Depression-era truck drivers in the Strip District could eat with one hand.
See the map in 1934 →
Did you know?
Connected places
Mac And Al's Bar
Spencer's Grill
B. Nugent & Brother Dry Goods
Courtyard by Marriott Downtown
Spiaggia
Ambria
Explore the full web of connections on the map.
Nearby history
Civic Arena (The Igloo)
Crawford Grill No. 2
Stanley Theatre (Benedum Center)
Byham Theatre
Civic Arena
Jenkins Arcade
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