generous portions, superior quality,
fast & friendly service

The sandwich name ‘grinder’ traces back to America’s East Coast during World War I when Italian immigrants set up sandwich shops close to the shipyards where dockworkers ground off the rivets and rust on the hulls of steel warships, readying them to be repainted. The shops sold freshly made, large Italian rolls packed with generous portions of meats and cheese, then baked and garnished with lettuce and tomato. These super-sized sandwiches became the favorite of the hardworking men that the friendly shop owners had nicknamed ‘grinders’ - and the name became synonymous with the big, ever-popular sandwiches they ate. So even today, these signature Italian sandwiches are still called grinders.

At Bellacino’s, we pledge to provide generous portions, superior quality, and fast, friendly service. We’re guided by the words of our founder, Joe Mancino, who said, ‘Short on time does not have to mean short on variety of flavor, but just the right blend of convenience and satisfaction. We will never compromise our quality for gimmick or profit.’ That’s the Bellacino’s guarantee.



Founder