Harry Olivieri

Harry Olivieri

Infobox Person
name = Harry Olivieri


image_size =
caption =
birth_date = 1916
birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
death_date = July 20, 2006
death_place = Pomona, New Jersey
occupation = Restaurateur
spouse = Anne DeLuca
parents = Michael and Maria Olivieri
children = 2 children

Harry M. Olivieri (born 1916 - died July 20 2006) was an Italian-American restaurateur. He is credited, along with his brother, Pat Olivieri, as the co-creator of the Philly Cheesesteak in 1933. The brothers opened Pat's King of Steaks in 1940, one of the best known purveyors of steak sandwiches in Philadelphia.

Early life

Olivieri was born in South Philadelphia to Italian parents Michael and Maria Olivieri. The family returned to Italy when he was three, returning to Philadelphia four years later. He attended Southwark School before leaving to work as a carpenter. [ [http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/local/15088592.htm] ] Olivieri married his wife, Anna DeLuca, in 1936.Citation
last =Sims
first =Gayle Ronan
author-link =
last2 =
first2 =
author2-link =
title =Obituary: Harry M. Olivieri / Philadelphia cheesesteak's co-creator
journal =Philadelphia Inquirer
volume =
issue =
pages =
date =July 22, 2006
year =2006
url =
doi =
id = ]

Pat's King of Steaks

In 1930, Harry opened a hot dog stall with his older brother Pat Olivieri at the corners of 9th Street, Wharton and Passyunk Avenues. [ [http://www.patskingofsteaks.com/] Pat's King of Steaks official website.] The brothers ran the restaurant while holding down others jobs; Harry worked as a carpenter, while Pat made sleds.

In 1933, as the family relates the story, the brothers invented the steak sandwich, selling the first one to a cab driver for ten cents.

In 1940, the brothers rented space to open Pat's King of Steaks at the same spot that they had their stand. The two brothers worked at the restaurant for 15 to 18 hours a day for the next few decades while the restaurant was open 24 hours a day. Harry worked at the Philadelphia Naval Yard during World War II before returning to the restaurant.

Harry Olivieri had a heart attack in 1972 and retired from day to day management. He still visited the business for a few hours each day to meet and greet the customers. Pat's son Herbert Olivieri disputed ownership of the business with Harry and his children. Son Frank Olivieri eventually bought out his father, sister and cousin.

In the last few years of his life, he lived with his daughter in Brigantine, New Jersey. He died of heart failure on July 22, 2006, in Pomona, New Jersey, at the age of 90.

Harry's grandson, Frank Jr., now runs the business.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/local/15088592.htm "Philadelphia Daily News" "Steak legend Harry Olivieri dies" 21 July 2006 accessed 25 July 2006]
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/22/us/22olivieri.html?_r=1&oref=slogin "New York Times", "Harry Olivieri, 90, Co-Inventor of Cheese Steak in Philadelphia, Dies" July 22, 2006 retrieved July 25, 2006]
* [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5573992 Interview with Frank Olivieri]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Olivieri — is a surname of Italian origin. The name refers to: Aldo Olivieri (1910–2001), Italian professional football player Andrew Olivieri (b. 1981), Canadian professional soccer player Dawn Olivieri (contemporary), actress and model Harry Olivieri… …   Wikipedia

  • Pat Olivieri — was an Italian American restaurateur. He is credited, along with his brother, Harry Olivieri, as the 1933 co creator of the Philly Cheesesteak. The brothers opened Pat s King of Steaks in 1940, one of the best known purveyors of steak sandwiches… …   Wikipedia

  • Pat's King of Steaks — (also known as Pat s Steaks) is a Philadelphia restaurant located at the intersection of 9th Street, Wharton Passyunk Avenues in south Philadelphia.HistoryPat s King of Steaks was founded by Pat and Harry Olivieri in 1930. The brothers are… …   Wikipedia

  • Cheesesteak — with Provolone Cheese Origin Alternative name(s) Philadelphia cheesesteak, Philly cheesesteak Place of origin …   Wikipedia

  • Cuisine of Philadelphia — The cuisine of Philadelphia was shaped largely by the city s mixture of ethnicities, available foodstuffs and history. Certain foods have become iconic to the city. Invented in Philadelphia in the 1930s, the cheesesteak is the most well known… …   Wikipedia

  • South Philadelphia — South Philadelphia, nicknamed South Philly, is the section of Philadelphia bounded by South Street to the north, the Delaware River to the east and south, and the Schuylkill River to the west. In 2000, the area s population was 162,683. It is… …   Wikipedia

  • Cheesesteak — Cheesesteak. Un Cheesesteak. El cheesesteak e …   Wikipedia Español

  • Deaths in July 2006 — Deaths in 2005: ← January February March April May June July August September October November December → The following is a list of notable deaths in July 2006. 31 Dugald Christie, 65, Canadian lawyer who fought for equitable access to legal… …   Wikipedia

  • List of Pennsylvania firsts — List of Pennsylvania firstsPennsylvania was the second state , but it was first in many respects: Firsts * 1688 mdash; First public protest of slavery in America, Germantown, (now part of Philadelphia) [ [http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr… …   Wikipedia

  • Cheesesteak — Philly cheesesteak Das Cheesesteak, auch bekannt als Philadelphia cheesesteak oder Philly cheesesteak, ist eine beliebte Sandwich Spezialität aus Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Es besteht hauptsächlich aus dünn geschnittenem Steakfleisch, das mit… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”