Cheesesteaks are in our blood as Philadelphians, and you could argue that any day and any time is national cheesesteak day for us. After all, Geno’s is open 24/7!
But March 24th marks the official National Cheesesteak Day, a special holiday where we get to celebrate the iconic cheesesteak sandwich and the rich culture that it brings to the city of Philadelphia.
Not quite up to speed on the upcoming holiday? No worries! Geno’s Steaks has you covered with a bit of background information on how National Cheesesteak Day came to be.
The History of The Cheesesteak and National Cheesesteak Day
National Cheesesteak Day is meant to celebrate the invention of the cheesesteak sandwich and, for those of youse who may be new here, the history of the cheesesteak is a hotly debated topic in the city. What many can agree on is that Pat and Harry Olivieri of Pat’s King of Steaks fame were among the first to popularize the steak sandwich in 1930. The steak sandwich quickly became a Philly staple, with the idea of adding provolone cheese coming from a manager at Pat’s sometime in the 1940’s.
An important part of cheesesteak oral history is the perfection of the cheesesteak sandwich, which many credit to Geno’s Steaks. Geno’s Steaks was founded by Joey Vento in 1966 when he had only a couple boxes of steaks, a few hot dogs, six dollars, and a dream to his name. Places nearby predicted that he would last, at most, six months but Joey proved them all wrong. Geno’s Steaks has been open for 57 years!
In the time since the cheesesteak has become known as Philadelphia’s go-to sandwich, hundreds of places have popped up to make sure that you can get your hands on one no matter what part of the city you are in.
Geno’s and Pat’s are still considered the top of the food chain and most in the city are aware of the friendly rivalry, but National Cheesesteak Day is about much more than that. The holiday is a time where we come together and celebrate the sandwich’s invention, perfection, and the joy that it continues to bring to our city. It is also the perfect time to get your hands on a cheesesteak and a feel for why it means so much to us.
On National Cheesesteak Day, it’s not about who does it best… but if you are spending the holiday anywhere besides Geno’s, you’re wrong!
Want to Spend National Cheesesteak Day the Right Way?
If you want to spend National Cheesesteak Day on Friday the right way, come on over to Geno’s Steaks to get the best cheesesteak in the city. For us, the holiday is the perfect time to tell our Geno’s family just how honored we are to celebrate the legacy of the cheesesteak with you all. We also love to take the time to honor our beloved founder and perfecter of the cheesesteak, Joey Vento, for the contributions he has made to our city’s iconic sandwich.
When you bite into a cheesesteak, especially from Geno’s, you are truly biting into a piece of history nearly 100 years in the making. Happy National Cheesesteak Day, everyone!