Primanti Bros. opens first Ohio restaurant in Boardman
BOARDMAN – Primanti Brothers is serving up its coleslaw- and french fry-packed sandwiches at Southland Crossings the home of the restaurant chain’s first Ohio location.
The eatery at 6731 South Ave. officially will open to customers Friday afternoon, but fans can start to tailgate at 8 tonight to secure a place in line.
The chain has been a dining institution in the Pittsburgh area since 1933. The “Almost Famous” Primanti Brothers sandwich built between two slices of crusty Italian bread also is stacked with the customer’s choice of meat and an optional egg.
The new restaurant provided a preview on Wednesday when donations were accepted for Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley. Primanti announced plans to match the funds.
The business started when Joe Primanti opened a cart in Pittsburgh’s Strip District and sold sandwiches to hungry truckers who were coming and going all hours of the night. Primanti expanded the business to a small storefront on 18th Street, where he was joined by his brothers, Dick and Stanley, and their nephew, John DePriter.
In recent years the restaurant, which started a new suburban concept in 1999, broadened its menu to include pizza, wings, soups and salads.
Along with the Original Primanti Brothers in Pittsburgh’s Strip District, the chain has locations in three other city neighborhoods and at Heinz Field, PNC Park and Consol Energy Center. There are eight locations surrounding the city. Additionally, restaurants are now open in other areas of Pennsylvania and in West Virginia and Florida.
Mark Teklinski, a Primanti partner, said the Boardman location is the first of other possible locations in Ohio. The eatery has 95 employees.
Mike Gallo of Niles said he already has received a lot of positive feedback from area residents.