Amato's
Encyclopedia
Amato's Sandwich Shops, Inc., is a chain of sandwich
and pizza
shops in northern New England
, United States. Founded in 1902 by Giovanni Amato, Amato's owns and operates 12 stores. Recent expansion has been in the form of franchising
, most notably in Irving Oil
/Circle K
locations in Maine
and New Hampshire
and Maplefield's locations in Vermont
and New York. The company also cans its spaghetti and pizza sauces for sale in Hannaford
supermarkets.
Amato's is best known for its Italian sandwich
, called "the Real Italian," which it claims to have invented in 1902.
. According to official literature, Amato's sandwiches contained ham
, American cheese
, and fresh vegetables, which the Italian immigrants
along the waterfront seemed to enjoy. Amato named his sandwich the "Italian" in honor of his country and his people (not, as is widely believed, because of its ingredients).
In 1972, Dominic Reali, an employee at the original Amato's on India Street, purchased the store from his boss. Under Reali, the company increased from one store to twelve, and began franchising. Reali also added Greek olives, sour pickles, and his own oil (a blend of olive
and vegetable oil) to the famous Real Italian.
/Circle K
convenience stores, sell Amato's pizza, pasta, salads, and sandwiches, but fewer specialty items. The Irving locations also have unique monthly specials while the others do not. Amato's franchises in Vermont
-based Maplefield's gas stations do not use the Amato's Xpress name.
Nearly all Amato's stores have dropped the Xpress moniker as of 2011.
Sandwich
A sandwich is a food item, typically consisting of two or more slices of :bread with one or more fillings between them, or one slice of bread with a topping or toppings, commonly called an open sandwich. Sandwiches are a widely popular type of lunch food, typically taken to work or school, or...
and pizza
Pizza
Pizza is an oven-baked, flat, disc-shaped bread typically topped with a tomato sauce, cheese and various toppings.Originating in Italy, from the Neapolitan cuisine, the dish has become popular in many parts of the world. An establishment that makes and sells pizzas is called a "pizzeria"...
shops in northern New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, United States. Founded in 1902 by Giovanni Amato, Amato's owns and operates 12 stores. Recent expansion has been in the form of franchising
Franchising
Franchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....
, most notably in Irving Oil
Irving Oil
Irving Oil is a gasoline, oil, and natural gas producing and exporting company. It is also one of the few energy companies in Canada to publicly support the Kyoto Accord. Irving Oil operates one large oil refinery...
/Circle K
Circle K
Circle K is an international chain of convenience stores, founded in 1951, in El Paso, Texas, United States. It is owned and operated by the Canadian-based Alimentation Couche-Tard.-Overview:...
locations in Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
and New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
and Maplefield's locations in Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
and New York. The company also cans its spaghetti and pizza sauces for sale in Hannaford
Hannaford
Hannaford may refer to more than one thing.* Hannaford, North Dakota, a town in North Dakota* Hannaford Bros. Co., a supermarket chain* Samuel Hannaford & Sons, a Cincinnati-based architectural firm founded by Samuel Hannaford...
supermarkets.
Amato's is best known for its Italian sandwich
Submarine sandwich
A submarine sandwich, also known as a sub among other names, is a sandwich that consists of a long roll of Italian or French bread, split lengthwise either into two pieces or opened in a "V" on one side, and filled with various varieties of meat, cheese, vegetables, seasonings, and sauces. The...
, called "the Real Italian," which it claims to have invented in 1902.
History
In 1902, Giovanni Amato and his wife opened a store on India Street in Portland, MainePortland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
. According to official literature, Amato's sandwiches contained ham
Ham
Ham is a cut of meat from the thigh of the hind leg of certain animals, especiallypigs. Nearly all hams sold today are fully cooked or cured.-Etymology:...
, American cheese
American cheese
American cheese is a processed cheese. It is orange, yellow, or white in color and mild in flavor, with a medium-firm consistency, and melts easily. American cheese was originally only white, but is usually now modified to yellow. In the past it was made from a blend of cheeses, most often Colby...
, and fresh vegetables, which the Italian immigrants
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
along the waterfront seemed to enjoy. Amato named his sandwich the "Italian" in honor of his country and his people (not, as is widely believed, because of its ingredients).
In 1972, Dominic Reali, an employee at the original Amato's on India Street, purchased the store from his boss. Under Reali, the company increased from one store to twelve, and began franchising. Reali also added Greek olives, sour pickles, and his own oil (a blend of olive
Olive oil
Olive oil is an oil obtained from the olive , a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin. It is commonly used in cooking, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and soaps and as a fuel for traditional oil lamps...
and vegetable oil) to the famous Real Italian.
Amato's Xpress
In recent years, Amato's has allowed several franchises to operate under the name Amato's Xpress. These locations, found mostly in Irving OilIrving Oil
Irving Oil is a gasoline, oil, and natural gas producing and exporting company. It is also one of the few energy companies in Canada to publicly support the Kyoto Accord. Irving Oil operates one large oil refinery...
/Circle K
Circle K
Circle K is an international chain of convenience stores, founded in 1951, in El Paso, Texas, United States. It is owned and operated by the Canadian-based Alimentation Couche-Tard.-Overview:...
convenience stores, sell Amato's pizza, pasta, salads, and sandwiches, but fewer specialty items. The Irving locations also have unique monthly specials while the others do not. Amato's franchises in Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
-based Maplefield's gas stations do not use the Amato's Xpress name.
Nearly all Amato's stores have dropped the Xpress moniker as of 2011.