Adam Richman had me ready to get on a plane the first time I saw him eating a sandwich at Primanti Bros. Usually, the challenges on that show border on excess, but this time, it was the unique sandwich that had me salivating.
This Pittsburgh-area chain does something different with its sandwiches, and while it has been copied elsewhere, the chain takes credit for creating it.
Like most food origin stories, it’s a simple one that has become a legend.
“The story might be half hazy memory, half lore — but it’s all true. According to [the nephew of original owner Joe Primanti]: ‘One winter someone drove up with a load of potatoes. He brought them over to the restaurant to see if they were frozen. I fried the potatoes on our grill and they looked pretty good. A few customers asked for them — so I tossed them on the sandwich.’ The sandwich was an instant hit — allowing all of the drivers working near the restaurant to eat with one hand — and drive their truck with the other.”
It’s a gimmick, but it’s a delicious gimmick. Primanti Bros. builds its sandwiches with french fries (and sometimes cole slaw) on top. That makes for a messy affair, but it’s also super convenient as you can eat your full meal in one package.
Image source: Primanti Bros.
How Primanti Bros. became a national sensation
While Adam Richman may not be Guy Fieri, he brought a lot of national attention to Primanti Bros. as “Man v. Food” was a hit show, He explained the chain’s core offering in the show’s open.
“When you’re looking for a fast feast in Pittsburgh, Primanti Brothers is the place to go. Patron to the working man on the go, Primanti’s created the ultimate handheld meal, putting classic sides like french [fries] and coleslaw right on the sandwich. This is the birthplace of the original stuffed sandwich,” he shared.
That one show took something that had been a regional phenomenon and made it a national sensation. It also led to countless copycats.
Primanti Bros. is closing stores
Primanti Bros. has closed two locations.
“After careful consideration, Primanti Bros made the decision to close our Chambersburg and Hanover restaurants,” a Primanti Bros. spokesperson told ABC27 News in an email. “We’re proud to have served these communities and we remain committed to our fans in central Pennsylvania – providing great food and a great time in the way that we’ve been doing since 1933.”
These Primanti Bros. locations have closed
- Garfield Neighborhood, Pittsburgh, PA: In June 2025, the Primanti Bros. restaurant on Penn Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Garfield neighborhood closed its doors. A sign on the door indicated that the restaurant had closed permanently. The company decided not to renew its lease and instead focused on its other locations within Pittsburgh city limits.
- High Street, Morgantown, WV: In August 2025, the Primanti Bros. location on High Street in Morgantown, West Virginia, shut its doors after a one-year lease. The company opted not to renew the lease and instead focused its efforts on the restaurant in Suncrest Towne Centre.
Two locations also closed in 2024.
- Dickson City, Pennsylvania: In December 2024, the Primanti Bros. restaurant in Dickson City, PA, abruptly closed without prior notice. The establishment’s Google listing and Facebook pages both listed the location as “permanently closed.”
- Morgantown, West Virginia (High Street): In August 2025, Primanti Bros. closed its High Street location in Morgantown, WV, after a one-year lease.
Sources: WTAE, wdtv.com, Dominion Post
Primanti Bros. is no longer family-owned
“At some point in the 1970s, Primanti Bros. went out of business. The original location was sold, and the brand is now owned by private equity firms and other investors, of which Adam Golomb is one. He was hired by the company nearly five years ago as its CMO, moved up to president, and this past January was named CEO,” shared StreetFightMag.
Golomb also shared that the brand has been built partially by praise from its celebrity fans.
“They all come through Pittsburgh. We just had Joe Biden stop in our restaurant. We’ve had Hillary Clinton. We’ve had Jimmy Fallon. The Food Network personalities, professional athletes. Joe Manganiello is from Pittsburgh and was in with his wife (then) Sofia Vergara,” he shared.
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Hospitality Hangout also offered its thoughts on why Primanti Bros. has been such an enduring brand.
“One of the keys to Primanti Bros.’ longevity is its ability to strike a balance between tradition and innovation. While the core menu remains anchored by its iconic sandwich, the brand has consistently introduced new items and initiatives to keep things fresh and exciting,” it shared.
That has included steady evolution of its menu.
“The most obvious example of this balance is the expansion of the menu beyond the original sandwich. While the classic combination of meat, cheese, coleslaw, and fries remains the star of the show, Primanti’s has added options like freshly baked New York-style pizza, spicy wings, salads, and burgers to appeal to a wider range of tastes. These additions allow the restaurant to attract new customers while still satisfying the cravings of its loyal fan base.”
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