Dating back to 1933, when Pittsburgh’s “Strip” District was still the exclusive turf of wholesalers delivering produce out of mammoth brick warehouses, the Primanti Brothers’ “Almost Famous” sandwich was aimed at a fail-proof market. For the truckers, who were “Strip” royalty, nothing tasted better than the meatand- potatoes meal they could hold in one big hand, while they steered with the other. Now the original Pittsburgh sandwich is consumed mostly by late-night clubbers, businessmen, sports fans and students, in ten Pittsburgh locations and others as far away as Hilton Head and Fort Lauderdale. (Respectful copies of the original Primanti Bros. model also successfully exist in St. Petersburg, Toronto, Cleveland and Nashville.)

The secret? Take two thick slices of Italian bread. Top with your choice of grilled Italian meats and melted provolone cheese. Pile on some freshly cut fries, oil and vinegary coleslaw, and then serve on wax paper. “It’s all by the handful literally,” says National Geographic. The sandwich looks big and sells big – as many as 10,000 a week at the original location in Pittsburgh. And for those die-hard sandwich lovers, the Primanti sandwich is a must have experience.

Opening its doors in July of 2004, Giordano Bros. brings its version of the sandwich, the “All-In-One”, to the Bay Area. Giordano Bros. was founded by Jeff and Allison Jordan, with the help and support of family and friends. In addition to tailoring arguably "the best sandwich you'll ever eat" to a San Francisco audience, Giordano Bros. provides an opportunity for the Jordan family to revisit their roots.

At the turn of the century, Jeff’s Great Grandfather Rafael Giordano immigrated from outside of Palermo, Sicily to America. Like many Italian Americans, his name became Americanized, and thus Rafael Giordano became Ralph Jordan (by choice or not is still a family topic of uncertainty) and started a produce business outside of Pittsburgh, PA in 1923. Ironically, the “Jordan Banana Company” eventually would become the “American Banana & Produce Co.” and the business settled in Pittsburgh’s “Strip” District across an alley from the original Primanti Bros.

Continuing the westward migration, Jeff Jordan and his wife Allison, who also grew up in Pittsburgh, relocated separately to San Francisco in 1994. Introduced by mutual friends at North Beach’s Grant and Green in 1995, the two became a couple and settled in North Beach - where the Jordan version of the Primanti sandwich became a staple treat at Jeff and Allison’s San Francisco cook-outs and parties over the years. Jeff and Allison would say, "San Francisco has everything you can ever want …except Primanti’s sandwiches!" and the party goers would agree.

Now, the wait is over. Staying true to the heritage of the neighborhood and its Italian history, Giordano Bros. will feature its signature bread from the Italian French Bakery, meats from Molinari’s, and fresh produce from Bob Sbragia Produce – the oldest family-owned, independent produce company in San Francisco.